Former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker. Photo via @Lions on X.
Former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker received bad news Tuesday afternoon. The Carolina Panthers cut Hooker after less than three months with the team, Ari Meirov first reported.
The Panthers signed Hooker to their practice squad back in late August after the Detroit Lions released the former SEC Offensive Player of the Year. Hooker served as the third string quarterback for much of the season but was bumped to fourth string last week after Carolina activated Mike White.
It’s a tough break and at least a moderately bad sign for Hooker’s future that a second team is cutting him in a three month stretch. He has struggled to create any positive momentum is his career after entering the league coming off the ACL injury that ended his college career.
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Hooker spent two years with the Lions and was battling with Kyle Allen for the backup quarterback job behind Jared Goff during training camp. Allen won that job and Detroit decided to waive Hooker after the former Tennessee standout struggled in the preseason. Hooker played in all four preseason games, completing 22-of-40 passes for 187 yards and three interceptions. He added 62 rushing yards.
Detroit drafted Hooker in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft after the star quarterback’s college career ended with a November knee injury that limited him not only leading into the NFL Draft but in his rookie season. Hooker played in three games for the Lions last season where he completed six-of-nine passes for 62 total yards.
Hooker was dominant in his two seasons at Tennessee, throwing for 6,080 yards and 58 touchdowns and rushing for 1,050 yards and 10 touchdowns in 24 games. The Greensboro, North Carolina native was a top contender for the 2022 Heisman Trophy before suffering a season-ending injury late in the season.