Hendon Hooker has officially been put on the active roster by the Detroit Lions. The team also waived Riley Patterson in a corresponding move, indicating that Michael Badgley will take on the kicking duties going forward.
Coach Dan Campbell had previously mentioned the plan to activate Hooker after his 21-day return-to-practice window, which closes Wednesday. Hooker had been recovering from a torn ACL sustained in November 2022 while with the Tennessee Volunteers and was on the non-football injury list since the end of training camp.
Expected to be the third quarterback option behind Jared Goff and Teddy Bridgewater, Hooker was the Lions’ third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and had an impressive final season in college before his injury.
While on the rehab path, Hooker participated in meetings but couldn’t practice with the team. With his activation, the coaching staff aims to offer more practice reps and development opportunities. He started practicing again on Nov. 29, ahead of Detroit’s Week 13 game against New Orleans.
The Lions will face a crucial quarterback decision at the season’s end. Goff has one more year on his contract, and the team will likely assess whether to extend his contract before the 2024 season.
