In the Detroit Lions’ only playoff game against the Washington Commanders this postseason, there was a tense moment when quarterback Jared Goff exited the field and made his way toward the blue medical tent on the sidelines.
However, when the Lions’ offense returned to the field, it was Teddy Bridgewater—who had recently come out of retirement—that head coach Dan Campbell turned to, not former third-round pick Hendon Hooker.
This decision by Campbell speaks volumes about Hooker’s future with the team. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, in his January 30 report, named Hooker as Detroit’s most likely player to be released in the upcoming offseason.
Barnwell explained, “The Lions don’t have anybody playing meaningful snaps who sticks out as a likely cap casualty. One potential candidate is the 27-year-old Hooker, who has thrown nine passes in two years. Hooker is owed only $1.3 million in un-guaranteed money in 2025, but he’s too inexperienced to be a reliable backup and too old to be a quarterback of the future, especially after Goff signed an extension last May.”
As for Bridgewater, he’s not a long-term solution as Detroit’s backup quarterback. After retiring to coach a high school football team in early 2024, Bridgewater only returned to active NFL duty after leading the team to a Florida state championship. In the playoff game against the Commanders, Bridgewater completed 1 of 1 pass for 3 yards. At 33 years old next November, the veteran quarterback’s future with the Lions is uncertain.
More news….
Report: Detroit Lions part ways with defensive assistant coach
The Detroit Lions are reportedly parting ways with assistant defensive line coach Cameron Davis.
According to NFL insider Aaron Wilson, Davis, who has been with the team since 2022, will no longer be part of the coaching staff. This comes after the Lions also lost defensive line coach Terrell Williams earlier this offseason, as he took the defensive coordinator role with the New England Patriots to reunite with Mike Vrabel. The Lions have since hired Kacy Rodgers as their new defensive line coach.
This adds to the disruption in the Lions’ defensive coaching staff. Despite this, coach Dan Campbell had expressed satisfaction with the coaching of the defensive line unit.
“I’ve known Terrell a long, long time and I just think that he’s an absolutely excellent coach, and Cam continues to grow as a coach as well and they work well together,” Campbell said in December. “I think they give our guys the best opportunity to have success in a game which is what you want.”
The Lions’ defensive line faced significant injury setbacks this season, with players like Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, Marcus Davenport, Kyle Peko, John Cominsky, and Mekhi Wingo all missing substantial time. Nevertheless, the defense persevered, with strong performances from draft picks Levi Onwuzurike and Josh Paschal.
This marks another coaching vacancy for the Lions, adding to a list of coaches who have departed this offseason, including:
- OC Ben Johnson
- DC Aaron Glenn
- Assistant QB coach J.T. Barrett
- WR coach Antwaan Randle El
- DL coach Terrell Williams
- Assistant DL coach Cameron Davis.
