Dan Campbell has brutally honest comments about Lions QB

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell offered a harsh assessment of one of his players following Saturday's preseason game against the Houston Texans.

The Lions rested most of their starters in their 26-7 loss, which gave their reserve players one last chance to audition for a spot on the 53-man roster. Former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker failed to capitalize on that opportunity.

Hooker, whom the Lions drafted in the third round in 2023, played all but two offensive serie s for Detroit against the Texans. He finished 6-of-11 passing with no touchdowns and an interception. He also had a 25-yard rush.

Following the game, Campbell bluntly suggested that Hooker may need a fresh start elsewhere.

"How much development do you believe there is? We’re talking about Hooker right now, how much development do you believe there still is?" Campbell asked reporters, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "Sometimes, does the player need a change of scenery?"

Campbell did, however, acknowledge that Hooker was at a disadvantage by not playing with the first-team offense.

"I wish Hooker -- and I know he does -- would have had a better outing, but you’ve got to take it with a grain of salt," Campbell said. "It’s not like he was playing with our first o-line out there, or first team skill position, all of that. You take that all into account as well. I though t he was prepared, I thought he was ready, looked pretty calm, and circumstances didn’t work out today, that’s all."

Kyle Allen has secured the primary backup QB job behind Jared Goff. While Hooker could remain with the Lions on their practice squad, it seems almost certain that the team is going to waive him and give him a chance to sign elsewhere.

The Lions obviously believed in Hooker's potential when they used a third-round pick on him, but things have not panned out the way they had hoped.