Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker, a former Tennessee Vols standout, returned to game action last week for the first time since suffering a torn ACL at UT in late 2022.
Hooker passed for 36 yards and rushed for 34 yards in the Lions’ preseason opener against the New York Giants before he was forced from the game due to a concussion.
Hooker is expected to play this weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs, though he hasn’t officially cleared the concussion protocol just yet.
After the game, Hooker’s mom, Wendy, let him know that he needs to start sliding to avoid injury.
“My mom is a huge fan of sliding,” said Hooker on Wednesday. “So I always get it from her but now the coaches are on me as well.”
Hooker said his mom told him “we got to slide” after the game via text and in person.
It’s not a surprise that Hooker’s mom is having to tell him to slide. The former Vol has always been willing to sacrifice his body to pick up a few extra yards.
Hooker is a competitor when he’s on the field — the only thing he’s thinking about is getting the ball down the field and moving the chains. But if he’s going to stick around longterm in the NFL, he’ll have to learn to avoid the big hits.