Usually, a Super Bowl contender signing a new backup quarterback in Week 17 signals a glaring lack of faith in their usual No. 2.
But Lions head coach Dan Campbell insisted on Thursday that adding Teddy Bridgewater “doesn’t mean we’re disappointed” in 2023 third-rounder Hendon Hooker, who has spent the season backing up Jared Goff.
“It’s just a different world that we’re getting ready to walk into,” said Campbell via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “We felt like this was the right thing to do, especially with somebody that I have a tremendous amount of trust with and for. He understands our offense well.”
Campbell’s comments could be read as a subtle acknowledgment of the obvious experience disparity between Bridgewater, a nine-year veteran with 65 career starts, and Hooker, a 2023 third-rounder who has played 33 total snaps in the NFL. Bridgewater has more passing attempts in the playoffs than Hooker has in his entire career. Campbell said that either quarterback could see the field if Goff misses any time in the playoffs and mentioned Bridgewater’s ability to lead the scout team offense.
Hooker, who has stayed in touch with Bridgewater since his retirement last year, isn’t taking the signing personally.
“I figured Teddy was going to come back here this season,” Hooker said. “I didn’t know when. I knew when his season was over, he was going to come back. I mean, we’ve been talking about it since the summer.”
Instead, the former Tennessee standout sees it as an opportunity to learn from Bridgewater’s experience.
“He’s still my mentor at the end of the day, so any questions I have about life, or this game of football, or being a pro always seem to lean on Teddy,” said Hooker.