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The Detroit Lions selected quarterback Hendon Hooker in the third round (68th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. Hooker showcased excellent patience in his final college season at the University of Tennessee, throwing for 3,135 yards and 27 touchdowns while running for 430 yards and five touchdowns.
Hooker could have gone higher in the draft if not for his age (25) and his recent injury. The rookie quarterback was coming off a severe ACL tear suffered in November, and most teams knew he wouldn't be ready for the start of the year.
Will Hooker start the season on time? If not, when will he return? Let's take a look.
Hendon Hooker Begins Season On NFI List
The Lions officially placed Hooker on the non-football injury (NFI) list to start the season. The move on Monday didn't come as a surprise to most, though. The Lions have stated numerous times this offseason that they are in "no rush" to get the rookie on the field.
Head coach Dan Campbell has even gone as far as to say that this rookie season could be a "redshirt year" for Hooker. It sounds like Detroit will surely be taking a careful approach with their 2023 third-round draft pick.
With Jared Goff starting for the team and veteran Teddy Bridgewater backing him up, there isn't a direct path to playing time for the rookie anyway. As he works his way back from his knee injury, Hooker will likely not see any playing time this season. But it will be interesting to see when the Lions activate him from the NFI list.
Hendon Hooker 2023 Fantasy Football Outlook
The odds that Hooker sees any playing time in his first season are slim to none. Even if an injury occurs for Goff, Bridgewater would be next in line to start.
The Lions will allow Hooker to develop under a couple of veteran quarterbacks to begin his career, which could be a positive. But it also isn't great for his development that he will likely not play all season and turn 26 in January. In comparison, Goff -- who enters his eighth NFL season -- is turning 29 in October.
Hooker should not be drafted in any fantasy leagues this year but remains an interesting case in Superflex dynasty leagues. He's a talented quarterback who showed maturity in his last college season. For this year, though, he probably won't see any playing time for Detroit.
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