There’s no getting around it, Nate Sudfeld has struggled for the Detroit Lions this summer. On the flip side of things, Hendon Hooker has been playing pretty well and showing promise. This seems like an easy situation right? Just cut Sudfeld and move forward with Hooker.
But it seems as though the Lions are still in the same mode that they were before the first preseason games.
The idea that the Lions would carry three quarterbacks into the season has been around for a while. The thought has been that Hooker just needs reps and time before the team fully trusts him as their QB2. But it felt like that had gone away in recent weeks until Lions head coach Dan Campbell talked about carrying three quarterbacks again on Tuesday and how Sudfeld could stick in Detroit and maybe even be QB2.
“Well I think you’re always concerned with injury at any position. The quarterback position certainly is – that’s always on the back of your mind and ultimately you need to know, you have to have conviction that whoever that guy is going to be able to keep this ship afloat.” Campbell said. “And what we know about (Lions QB Hendon) Hooker is, Hooker is a young developing quarterback and he needs reps and he needs time. I do know that. And Nate right now has the upper hand because he’s played more. He’s been in it more, he’s seen it more, he just – and so with that, that would tell you there’s a good chance you could keep three. Am I going to say that’s 100 percent certain right now? No. But that’s kind of what you look at.”
That’s really been the thing for Hooker this offseason. Campbell has talked multiple times about Hooker needing to get reps, reps and more reps since he’s a year behind after missing all of the 2023 season. It’s clear that while Hooker is having a solid preseason, the Lions don’t feel 100% confident about putting the inexperienced quarterback right on the field if they needed to.
That’s how Sudfeld could wind up sticking in Detroit and being the backup. It’s all about that experience and Sudfeld has a lot of it.
As for Jake Fromm, we asked Campbell about him on Wednesday and it’s not looking too great. Fromm is not expected to play in Saturday’s game against the Steelers.
“It’s that’s tough, because we haven’t really got to see much of him, you know. And when we brought him in, it was depending on when Hooker can or can’t come back, you know, how much can we get in what? You know? And so I don’t anticipate really getting to see him, you know, I don’t want to say absolutely not, but, but I think the priority will be Hooker, and I think we need to get Nate some reps, and then we’ll see what’s there with Fromm.
A report from NFL Insider Jeremy Fowler now confirms that the Lions continue to see Nate Sudfeld as their QB2 and Hendon Hooker as their QB3.
“Hendon Hooker fighting for QB2 in Detroit. Chiefs thought he saw the field well vs. them last week. More positive work vs. Steelers will strengthen his case. Nate Sudfeld slated as the 2 right now.”
Sudfeld will start Saturday’s game against the Steelers and Hooker will back him up. Sounds like maybe there’s a shot Hooker can supplant Sudfeld if he has a very good game. There’s still no expectation that we will see Jake Fromm in this one.