Hendon Hooker talks about his Bush’s Beans deal
Bush’s Beans and Hendon Hooker arrived at 2023 SEC Media Days to talk about his partnership.
Lanie Michelle De La Milera, Knoxville News Sentinel
The Carolina Panthers released former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker from their practice squad, the team announced Nov. 4.
Hooker originally signed with the Panthers practice squad Aug. 27, just two days after he was waived as part of the Detroit Lions’ final roster cuts. The 27-year-old opened the season as the team’s third-string quarterback behind Bryce Young and Andy Dalton.
However, the Panthers signed veteran Mike White to their practice squad on Oct. 21 to jockey for position with Hooker on Carolina’s depth chart. He eventually won the opportunity to serve as the backup to Dalton while Young nursed a knee injury and was signed to the 53-man roster on Oct. 30.
Just five days later, Hooker was released, having never been elevated to the active roster at any point during his nine weeks with the Panthers.
Hooker has dressed for just three games during his NFL career to date, all of which came for Detroit in 2024. He completed 6 of 9 passes for 62 yards across 33 total offensive snaps.
The Lions selected Hooker in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft (68th overall) after he enjoyed a quality, five-year career at Virginia Tech and Tennessee.
During his final college season, Hooker completed an SEC-best 69.6% of his passes for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns and two interceptions while adding 430 yards and five scores on the ground. He finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting despite missing the end of the season after suffering a torn ACL.
Hooker was released from Carolina’s practice squad, so he will not be subject to the NFL’s waiver system. He will immediately be eligible to sign with another team, whether it’s as a part of their 53-man roster or their practice squad.