Dan Campbell Makes Big Detroit Lions Quarterback Decision

The Detroit Lions are getting into the preseason a bit early, because they actually have a July game. It’s nothing to be mad about, because it just means that football viewers who have been missing their favorite sport get to watch some football in the heat of the summer. The Lions will take on the Chargers in the popular Hall of Fame game on Thursday, July 31, and it will give the team a chance to try out some of their backup players in a real game situation.

As the Lions prep for the upcoming 2025-26 season, one big question has been the backup quarterback situation. Hendon Hooker has been with the team for a few years now, but it really doesn’t seem like they think they can depend on him as their Q2. Last season, they even brought Teddy Bridgewater out of retirement to be Q2 when the Lions went to the playoffs.

Now, Dan Campbell has apparently made a move that’s very telling about the future of the Lions’ quarterback room.

GettyHendon Hooker #2 of the Detroit Lions plays against the Jacksonville Jaguars

Hendon Hooker and the Detroit Lions

On the Pat McAfee Show, McAfee revealed that the Detroit Lions plan to have Kyle Allen start as quarterback for the Hall of Fame game. He added that Hooker will get some play time in the game, but seeing this decision made by Dan Campbell shows that he’s considering Allen their Q2 under Jared Goff.

This isn’t a very surprising development. So far, in camp, it’s been reported that Hooker wasn’t doing what needed to be done to get the Q2 job over Allen. Plus, Allen is just more experienced. He’s been in the NFL for seven years and has started in 19 games.

Honestly, the Lions are cooked if Goff gets seriously injured this season. Allen and Hooker are solid players, but it would be very difficult for this franchise to depend on them for weeks and weeks if Goff were to be injured. So, let’s hope that Goff stays healthy, like he did last season. The players around him have to protect him like he’s a precious metal or something.

The One Who Got Away

This reporter would have loved seeing the Lions snag Cooper Rush as Q2 this season. Rush is a Michigan native who played football at Lansing Catholic High School and started his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys in 2017. In March of this year, Rush signed a two-year, $6.2 million deal valued up to $12.2 million with the Baltimore Ravens.

“The 31-year-old Rush has extensive NFL experience, having appeared in 38 games with a 9-5 record in 14 starts since he joined the Cowboys as an undrafted rookie in 2017,” the Ravens noted when announcing the addition. For his career, Rush has completed 330 of 554 passes (60.7%) for 3,463 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.”

They added, “The Ravens were expected to sign or draft a backup quarterback this offseason. Veteran Josh Johnson, who was Jackson’s backup last season, is a free agent and will turn 39 years old in May. Devin Leary, who was a rookie last season, spent 2024 as the No. 3 quarterback and did not see season action during the regular season.”

So, yes, Rush is the one who got away. Do you agree? Let me know.