The Detroit Lions’ backup quarterback battle took a dramatic turn Friday night, and head coach Dan Campbell made it clear why the decision was made to pull Hendon Hooker early and turn things over to Kyle Allen.
Hooker, making his first preseason start against the Atlanta Falcons, struggled to protect the football. Two costly fumbles in the first half, including one deep in Falcons territory, derailed drives and ultimately sealed his fate for the night.
“You decide you’re gonna be a runner, you gotta tuck it away, man,” Campbell said on Monday, pointing directly to the turnovers as the reason for Hooker’s early exit.
Dan Campbell postgame reaction Hendon Hooker benching
TL;DR
Hooker pulled early vs. Falcons after two first-half fumbles.
Campbell: “You decide you’re gonna be a runner, you gotta tuck it away, man.”
Allen shined, going 7-of-8 for 120 yards and 2 TDs.
Campbell: “I thought he was on point with the checks… he operated the offense at a high level. I was fired up.”
Allen now the apparent frontrunner for Lions’ backup QB job.
Why Hooker Sat
Campbell confirmed that Hooker was pulled before halftime because of the giveaways, despite making a few solid throws and converting a fourth down to Isaac TeSlaa earlier in the game. The third-year QB has now played in two preseason contests without leading a scoring drive, a stat that looms large in the competition for the No. 2 job.
Allen Seizes the Opportunity
Enter Kyle Allen. Taking over with just over five minutes left in the first half, the veteran immediately injected life into the offense, connecting on a deep strike to Jackson Meeks to set up Detroit’s first touchdown of the night.
Campbell didn’t hide his enthusiasm for Allen’s performance. “I thought he was on point with the checks… he operated the offense at a high level. I was fired up,” the coach said. He later added that Allen “played really well” and handled the offense exactly how they wanted.
DC on Kyle Allen's performance against the Falcons pic.twitter.com/PfWzQ7BeVG
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 11, 2025
Allen finished 7-of-8 for 120 yards and two touchdowns, also guiding two more scoring drives in the second half, one ending with a Jake Bates field goal, and the other with a touchdown pass to Meeks (The first went to TeSlaa in the first half). Through two preseason games, Allen has now led all four of the Lions’ scoring drives.
The Big Picture
With two preseason games left, Allen has positioned himself as the clear frontrunner for the backup role behind Jared Goff. For Hooker, the path forward is about protecting the ball and proving he can finish drives.
Campbell’s postgame breakdown leaves little doubt, this competition is still alive, but the momentum has swung hard in Allen’s favor.