Hendon Hooker looks crisp passing at Detroit Lions OTAs as he continues ACL recovery
It’s still going to be a while until Hendon Hooker is ready for full-speed football, but the Detroit Lions rookie quarterback is showing some promising signs. The former Tennessee star was caught on camera getting some extra throws after practice on Thursday.
Hooker tore his ACL in late November, ending his season and any chance of a full pre-draft process. As his peers trained and went around for workouts, the best Hooker could do with teams while rehabbing was sit for interviews.
But now the third-round pick is inching his way back to full health with the Lions, getting some extra reps passing.
That wideout Trinity Benson on the reception ahead of the backline. Hooker is still wearing a protective leg sleeve/brace on his left leg, which can be seen in the video. But more than six months removed from his injury, the quarterback is looking pretty comfortable dropping back and letting it fly.
And Hooker already looks a little stronger and more fluid on his feet than he did in late April when he posted videos of himself dropping back and throwing at the Tennessee practice facility.
Those were his first reps moving with the ball like that after his surgery. And even in the approximate six weeks between then, it’s clear to see how Hooker is on the mend.
“First day of dropping back during this mornings session… feels great to move around again,” Hooker said in late April along with the videos of him throwing.
However, the Lions won’t be needing Hooker to race back to full health. He can take his time and fully heal and recover while Jared Goff helms the offense.
Hooker could be ready by the start of the season
According to a letter shared by his surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, Hooker is on a fast-track for recovery.
Shortly befor the 2023 NFL Draft, ESPN’s Pete Thamel said that every team in the National Football League got a letter from Hooker’s orthopedic surgeon, ElAttrache and the letter states that “Hooker is on a timeline to be fully cleared by the first weekend of the NFL season.”
Before going down with his ACL injury, Hooker completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 3,135 yards, while tossing 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions. As a runner, he had 104 carries for 430 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He was one of the nation’s leading Heisman candidates for much of the 2022 campaign.
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