Lions head coach Dan Campbell said on Thursday that the team’s decision to sign Teddy Bridgewater was not a commentary on their feelings about backup quarterback Hendon Hooker, but one would have a hard time blaming Hooker for feeling otherwise.
Hooker has spent the entire season backing up Jared Goff and the move to bring Bridgewater back after the veteran spent the season coaching in high school could be interpreted as a lack of confidence in the 2023 third-round pick heading into the postseason. Hooker didn’t show any sign of feeling that way on Thursday, however.
Hooker said he always expected Bridgewater would be back with the team and called Bridgewater his mentor because “any questions I have about life or this game of football or being a pro always seem to lean on Teddy.” Hooker also said that he wasn’t thrown by an opportunity to prove himself alongside another quarterback.
“Throughout all my years of playing football, I’ve always been in a quarterback competition,” Hooker said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “So it’s just the nature of the business. Just bring your game.”
The Lions will be hoping that Jared Goff is the only quarterback they’ll need to play meaningful snaps the rest of the way, but the hope is that having both options on hand leaves them in the best possible position in the event this year’s injury bug extends to the quarterback position.
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