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Former Tennessee football quarterback makes NFL debut with Lions
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Former Tennessee football quarterback makes NFL debut with Lions

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Hendon Hooker is back on the football pitch.

The former Tennessee star quarterback made his first appearance on the field since suffering a torn ACL on Nov. 19, 2022, during a 63-28 loss to South Carolina. Hooker, who was firmly in the Heisman Trophy race at the time of his injury, was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. He ended up redshirting his rookie season.

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Hooker made his first NFL appearance against the New York Giants on Thursday at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in the Lions’ first preseason action. According to the first unofficial depth chart, the 26-year-old is listed as the third-string quarterback, with Jared Goff firmly entrenched as the starter. He’s competing with backup Nate Sudfield, who has earned the starting job, for the backup role.

Hooker was named the 2022 SEC Offensive Player of the Year after completing 229 of 329 passes (69.6%) for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing on 104 charges for 430 yards and five touchdowns while leading the Vols to a 9-2 record in 11 games.

Hendon Hooker leads the Detroit Lions on a long series

On his first drive, Hooker ran twice for 12 yards and completed his only pass for one yard, a completion to running back Zonovan Knight.

On his second drive, Hooker converted a pair of third downs — a third-and-five conversion on a pass to Isaiah Williams and a third-and-eight completion to Parker Hess — despite getting hit late by New York’s Benton Whitley. He also added a 16-yard scramble where he broke a tackle and showed off the health of his knee.

Hooker got Detroit into the red zone, but it stayed out of the end zone despite a 14-play, 88-yard drive that ended with a fumble at the Giants’ three-yard line on just their second NFL series.

This story will be updated.

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