Mailbag: Is Hendon Hooker’s status as the Lions QB2 in doubt? (2024)

As we continue our way through the month of June, NFL news can be hard to come by. That’s why we have called on our readers to share their questions with us so we can address the topics Detroit Lions fans want to know.

Over the weekend, I sorted through the litany of supplied questions and kicked off my installments in the mailbag series by focusing on a single question: who is going to be the Lions’ biggest villain this season, Jahmyr Gibbs or Jameson Williams?

In this version of the mailbag, I’ve included a few more questions, so let’s get started.

Let’s take a look at all three of Michael’s questions separately and a bit out of order.

Who is QB2?

In his post-OTA/minicamp look at the Lions depth chart, Jeremy Reisman indeed said, “If the season were to start tomorrow, I believe Nate Sudfeld would be the backup to Jared Goff” but also noted that “The long-term plan is undeniably for (Hooker) to be the backup, but he still has a ways to go, and I won’t be going into training camp assuming the job is his.”

I was unable to attend OTA/minicamp this spring, so I can’t speak directly on my observations of Hooker’s development but I will agree with Jeremy that Hooker being QB2 is the clear plan—though I am more inclined to assume the QB2 job will be his when training camp opens.

Now, if Hooker’s development stalls during camp, he could easily be passed by Sudfeld on the depth chart, but I believe the Lions will start practices with Hooker in the QB2 role and allow him to sink or swim. Hooker’s technique is being finessed by the coaching staff this offseason, which has likely led to some of his inconsistencies, but coach Dan Campbell has said the team is happy with the progress Hooker is making in his reads—his other big obstacle—and that he is on track for what they anticipated.

So while Jeremy is probably right in that Sudfeld is the more trusted backup quarterback at this moment, the regular season is also nearly three months away, and Hooker will get a litany of chances to prove he deserves to be QB2.

KR/PR predictions

Kalif Raymond is a year removed from being an All-Pro punt returner and he has locked down that role for the foreseeable future. Others who were reportedly in the mix for a backup job were Maurice Alexander, Kaden Davis, Tom Kennedy, Isaiah Williams, Jalon Calhoun, and Jameson Williams. Additionally, in previous seasons, Amon-Ra St. Brown has served as the emergency backup.

While the punt return job is basically set, the kick return job seems very much up for grabs.

If you missed it this offseason, the NFL has revamped its kick return rules, adjusting its concepts to make it more likely teams attempt to return the ball. The Lions' special teams coordinator Dave Fipp has already begun scheming up ways to approach the new parameters.

“It’s become more of a short area play,” Fipp explained. “You got a guy lined up 5 yards across from you—you might settle a little bit and make it 7—but you’re trying to beat a guy in a 7-yard space. And so, I think it is a little bit more quickness-oriented, both in the coverage game and the return game. I think guys' abilities to flip their hips—kind of similar to the secondary-type guys—flip their hips, match guys in the return game is going to be important.”

This spring during OTA/minicamp, the Lions were very cautious in what allowed the media to report on, so any hints on who might be in contention for the return job remains behind closed doors, for now.

In the past, the Lions have leaned on running backs—most recently Craig Reynolds and Zonovan Knight—for their returns, so it’s probably a good idea to keep an eye out for rookie Sione Vaki. Additionally, based on the rules, it’s probably a good idea to keep an eye on other players who skills are “a little bit more quickness-oriented” and can accurately diagnose the blocking scheme in front of them.

Battle for the backup center role

Lions’ All-Pro center Frank Ragnow is arguably the best center in the NFL, but an inoperable foot injury suffered in 2021 has resulted in some understandable anxiety amongst the fan base. Ragnow and the Lions medical staff have found ways for him to comfortably manage through the injury, but concerns about an abrupt retirement always linger, no matter how many times he says he doesn’t plan to retire. That being said, Ragnow is a regular on the weekly in-season injury report and it’s good practice for the Lions to have a depth plan at such an important position.

With the depth the Lions have on the interior offensive line, I believe they will continue to lean on starting left guard Graham Glasgow as their primary backup at center. If Ragnow needs to miss time, Glasgow would slide to the pivot and one of the reserve guards would step into a starting role.

With Glasgow’s positional flexibility, the Lions can opt to keep their third option at center on the 53-man roster or on the practice squad—as they did last year with Michael Niese—as a possible game-day elevation candidate.

So who is the third option?

At the moment, it looks like Niese is the early front-runner, but the Lions did bring in a trio of undrafted rookie centers—Kingsley Eguakun, Duke Clemens, and Bryan Hudson—for a reason. The UDFAs were all cross-trained at center and guard this spring but all three should have a chance in training camp to challenge Niese for his spot on the depth chart.

The four-player battle for the third center role should be entertaining to watch in training camp, especially if one of the players challenges for a spot on the active roster.

For those who have followed my ramblings over the years, I’ve consistently reiterated that there are a few key positions where teams need a starter-level backup, with offensive tackle being one of those spots.

The Lions have two unquestioned starters in Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker, but the OT3 role seems very much unsettled, with four players contending for the job: Dan Skipper, Colby Sorsdal, Giovanni Manu, and Connor Galvin.

Skipper, a seven-year veteran, was the Lions' OT3 last season and likely enters 2024 in the pole position for the job. Sorsdal started four seasons at right tackle in college but spent the majority of his rookie year training to transition to guard—though he did play some right tackle early in the regular season as an injury replacement. Galvin, also in his second year, received the highest level of contractual guarantees from the Lions 2023 UDFA class but spent his rookie season on the Lions practice squad. Manu arguably has the highest upside of the group, but he is expected to spend his rookie season acclimating to the NFL.

As a group, the upside of their youth is very appealing, but at this moment, I’m not sure I’m entirely comfortable with any of them starting if called upon. Additionally, because of the Lions’ investment in their youth, their roster spots are limited, and as a result, I also don’t expect them to pursue a veteran offensive tackle for training camp. That means this is likely the group of players the Lions will be choosing from in 2024.

The best-case scenario for the Lions seems to hinge on at least one of their younger players developing. If Sorsdal quickly reverts back to tackle, he has the upside to surpass Skipper on the depth chart. By all indications, Manu seems like a long-term project, but with his level of athleticism, there’s a slim chance he will pick up on things quickly and then challenge. Galvin is the dark horse of the group, but the Lions clearly like him, and he has also spent the last year in the Lions system working at the position, giving him an advantage.

In the end, there are paths for the Lions to solidify the OT3 spot, but they’re going to need someone to step up their game.