Dan Campbell's preseason decision ends debate over Hendon Hooker's Lions future

The Detroit Lions started Kyle Allen in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers to very little results. They eventually put Hendon Hooker in at quarterback in the second half of that game, but he wasn't able to get much done against the Chargers defense, either.

But, Week 2 was a brand new opportunity for both signal callers to clean things up and make smarter, and safer, decisions with the football after a turnover-heavy Hall of Fame game.

Unfortunately for Hooker, that just wasn't the case against the Atlanta Falcons. He fumbled twice in the first half as the Lions' starter, eventually getting yanked by head coach Dan Campbell early in his assignment in favor of Allen. Allen immediately led the Lions' offense down the field for a score, outperforming Hooker on just a handful of throws.

That decision to pull Hooker earlier than planned might have revealed how this year's QB2 battle between him and Allen has suddenly turned in Allen's favor.

Hooker pulled early after disastrous 1st half vs. Falcons

Hooker, who is finally getting the opportunity to compete for the backup quarterback spot to Jared Goff this season, has yet to really show much of the positive that reporters have said he's exhibited in training camp. He was indecisive, escaping the pocket far too quickly, and most importantly, didn't protect the football.

That last point is what makes Hooker's poor performance a bit concerning in terms of his ability to stick with the roster until the regular season begins. After the Hall of Fame game, Campbell told reporters that if players aren't able to limit turnovers, they'd have a tough time sticking with the team. Enter Hooker with two turnovers and just 38 yards in the air.

The Lions are now in a pickle as it pertains to the development and timeline for Hooker, who was drafted back in 2023 in the 3rd round. If Allen continues to perform solidly in preseason and in training camp, then the depth chart gets crystal clear: Allen would become Goff's backup, with Hooker acting as QB3.

There's still plenty of preseason football to be played, and it's not like Allen has completely blown Hooker out of the water. Both have had turnover issues, both have been indecisive at times, and both have failed to look down the field for easy wins. But, if the shorter leeway for Hooker in the Falcons game was any indication, it's that the Lions are starting to get serious about their QB2 situation.