Hendon Hooker – Page 3 – Syndication Server

Hendon Hooker discusses Bush’s Beans, Summitt Blue, alternate uniforms

Hendon Hooker discusses his partnership with Bush’s Beans, rehabbing from injury, Tennessee honoring Pat Summitt and alternate uniforms.

Former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker was selected by Detroit in the third round (No. 68 overall) of the 2023 NFL draft.

He played for the Vols from 2021-22.

Hooker completed 435-of-632 passing attempts for 6,080 yards, 58 touchdowns and five interceptions, while rushing for 1,046 yards and 10 touchdowns in 24 games at Tennessee.

PHOTOS: A look at Hendon Hooker through the years

The Lions have an open date in Week 9 of the NFL season.

During the Week 9 open date, Hooker discussed with Vols Wire his partnership with Bush’s Beans, UT wearing Summitt Blue accessories versus UConn on Saturday and Tennessee alternate uniforms.

Hooker’s discussion with Vols Wire is listed below.

One year later: Looking back on the T.J. Hockenson trade

One year after the Vikings traded for T.J. Hockenson, how does that move look today?

The Minnesota Vikings were 7-1 at the trade deadline in 2022 but needed something on offense to keep the momentum going. They chose to upgrade their passing game in a major way by trading with the Detroit Lions for tight end T.J. Hockenson.

The Lions weren’t in a great spot at the trade deadline last year sitting at 1-6 on the season. They were in positions to be sellers and move on from a player that didn’t factor into their long-term plans.

After dealing with each other during the 2022 NFL draft, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Lions general manager Brad Holmes struck another deal to sent the former Iowa Hawkeye to Minnesota.

Exactly one year later, how does the trade look for both sides? Let’s break it down from all angles from on-field play to assets acquired.

A look back at Tennessee’s victory against Kentucky in 2021

A look back at Tennessee’s victory against Kentucky in 2021.

Tennessee first fielded a football team in 1891 and the Vols have played in memorable games throughout its history.

Each week, Vols Wire will recap a memorable game against its upcoming opponent.

Vols Wire revisits Tennessee’s, 45-42, victory against Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Nov. 6, 2021.

The Vols, under first-year head coach Josh Heupel, led, 24-21, at halftime.

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker completed 15-of-20 passing attempts for 316 yards and four touchdowns.

Velus Jones Jr., Cedric Tillman, JaVonta Payton and Jacob Warren scored receiving touchdowns for the Vols.

Jabari Small led Tennessee in rushing yards (55). He scored one rushing touchdown.

Jones Jr. led the Vols in receiving yards (100).

Alontae Taylor returned an interception for a 56-yard touchdown.

A look back at Tennessee’s win versus Florida in 2022

A look back at Tennessee’s win versus Florida in 2022.

Tennessee first fielded a football team in 1891 and the Vols have played in memorable games throughout its history.

Each week, Vols Wire will recap a memorable game against its upcoming opponent.

In Week 3, Vols Wire looks back at Tennessee’s 38-33 win versus Florida on Sept. 24, 2022 at Neyland Stadium.

Quarterback Hendon Hooker completed 22-of-28 passing attempts, 349 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 112 yards and one touchdown on 13 attempts.

Running back Jabari Small recorded 90 rushing yards and one touchdown on 19 attempts. He also recorded one touchdown reception.

Bru McCoy was Tennessee’s leading wide receiver, totaling five receptions, 102 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Kamal Hadden recorded five tackles, two assists and one interception.

Five days until it is football time in Tennessee

Countdown to the 2023 season: Five days until it is football time in Tennessee

Tennessee will kick off its 2023 football season in five days.

Quarterback Hendon Hooker played for the Vols from 2021-22 and wore jersey No. 5.

Hooker completed 206-of-303 passing attempts, totaling 2,945 passing yards, 31 passing touchdowns and three interceptions in 2021. He also recorded 620 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on 167 attempts.

In 2022, Hooker completed 229-of-329 passing attempts for 3,135 passing yards, 27 passing touchdowns and two interceptions. He also totaled 430 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

The Vols will kick off its 2023 season Sept. 2 versus Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Kickoff is slated for noon EDT and ABC will televise the contest.

Tennessee’s home schedule has contests against Austin Peay, UTSA, South Carolina, Texas A&M, UConn, Georgia and Vanderbilt.

The Vols’ road schedule features games at Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and Missouri.

The 2023 season will be Tennessee’s third under head coach Josh Heupel.

Tennessee’s 2023 football schedule

2023 Tennessee Vols Football Schedule: Downloadable Smartphone Wallpaper

Lions ‘have not even talked about’ timetable for activating rookie QB Hendon Hooker

The Lions ‘have not even talked about’ timetable for activating rookie QB Hendon Hooker from the NFI list, per Dan Campbell

When the Detroit Lions selected Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft, it was done with the knowledge that Hooker might not be ready to play right away. He had surgery in December to repair a torn ACL, after all, and immediately began his Lions career on the non-football injury (NFI) list once he was eligible to be added.

Hooker has looked very strong in his post-practice workouts in both throwing the ball and with his mobility. Under the watchful eye of trainers, Hooker has done considerable activity (jumping backward down the hill on the practice field as an example) that makes it look like he’s ready to roll. However, that’s not something Lions head coach Dan Campbell has really considered just yet.

Campbell was asked before Thursday’s practice if Hooker might be activated before the start of the regular season.

“Yeah, honestly, we have not even talked about Hooker in those regards. It’s been more about, let’s get him back,” Campbell said.

He then indicated that the team is very pleased with Hooker’s work with QB coach Mark Brunell and assistant coach J.T. Barrett in doing whatever he can to prepare despite being injured. However, the idea and timing of activating Hooker is not something that Campbell or Lions GM Brad Holmes have gone over in the roster construction process just yet.

“And then everything else, his rehab, he just continues to come along and get better, but honestly, Brad (Holmes) and I haven’t even discussed him at this point. Once we start hearing from (Lions Director of Player Health & Performance Brett Fischer) Fisch and those guys like, ‘Hey, this guy’s coming on,’ we get the, ‘OK, you guys may have a decision to make sooner than later,’ then we’re not even going to worry about it right now.”

That would indicate the idea that Campbell is under the impression Hooker will remain on the NFI list into the regular season. If that’s what happens, the rookie will miss at least the first four weeks.

Now that the Lions have added veteran Teddy Bridgewater as a backup to Jared Goff, the urgency to get Hooker ready and on the active roster is further diminished. Nate Sudfeld remains on the roster, as does undrafted rookie Adrian Martinez, so there is no impetus to rush Hooker into action in the exhibition season.

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With Anthony Richardson starting for Colts, Saints will face every top rookie QB

With Anthony Richardson officially starting for the Indianapolis Colts, the New Orleans Saints will face every top rookie quarterback in 2023 | @southexclusives

This probably doesn’t surprise many fans, but on Tuesday Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen announced Anthony Richardson as the team’s starting quarterback. Richardson was one of the five highly discussed quarterbacks from this rookie class along with Bryce Young, C.J Stroud, Will Levis and Hendon Hooker.

And all five of them have their teams on this year’s New Orleans Saints schedule. The Saints will see Richardson, Stroud and Young this year for sure, but the latter passers are still working to earn their snaps. Let’s check in on each of their team’s quarterback situations:

Updated Lions 53-man roster projection after two weeks of training camp

Updated Detroit Lions 53-man roster projection after two weeks of training camp

Detroit Lions training camp will wrap the second week of action on Saturday. It’s a good point to recalibrate the depth chart and reevaluate the 53-man roster projection.

There are a few changes to the prediction after 10 days of practice. Injuries have caused some unfortunate shifts, as have on-field performances — positive and negative. There are some leanings here that reflect what I’ve seen and heard in training camp, too.

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Hendon Hooker among 3 Lions placed on the NFI list to start camp

Rookie QB Hendon Hooker among 3 Lions placed on the NFI list to start training camp

The Detroit Lions made some procedural roster moves to start the 2023 training camp. Three players were placed on the non-football injury list.

The most notable player hitting the active NFI list is third-round rookie quarterback Hendon Hooker. He is still recovering from knee surgery that Hooker had at the end of his college career at Tennessee.

Hooker is joined by tight end Derrick Deese Jr. and defensive lineman Zach Morton. Deese was healthy enough to participate in the recent minicamp, so something came up between those OTAs in June and now.

The players are eligible to be activated from the list at any time during the offseason. The NFI list is for players dealing with injuries that occurred outside the NFL. Even though Hooker’s injury happened while playing football, he wasn’t yet in the NFL so it qualifies as a non-football injury instead of the physically unable to perform, or PUP list.

Lions players who could begin training camp on the PUP or NFI list

Some Lions players might not be medically ready to roll at the start of training camp

The Detroit Lions report for training camp later this month. All 90 players on the team’s roster will be in the team’s training facility in Allen Park for the annual process of setting the roster and getting the team ready for the regular season.

Some players might not be physically ready to practice right away, however. Those players typically wind up being placed on one of two lists: physically unable to perform (PUP) or non-football injury (NFI).

There isn’t any practical difference in the football playing status between the PUP list and the NFI list. It deals more with the source of the injury and does carry some contractual ramifications, as nicely explained by the NFL.

Players who get placed on the active/PUP list or active/NFI list are allowed to do conditioning drills, participate in team meetings and work with coaches and staff individually. They also count toward the 90-man offseason roster. They are not permitted to participate in practices or team drills until activated, which require clearance by the team’s medical staff.

Here are some Lions who could begin training camp on one of the lists. As long as a player starts camp on the list, he can be activated at any time prior to the final roster cutdowns.