The Detroit Lions continue fine-tuning their strategy with Jared Goff as their main star for the 2025 NFL season, while head coach Dan Campbell has made it clear that he will not let mistakes go unnoticed, even in preseason games.
The Lions earned their first preseason victory by defeating the Atlanta Falcons after a 7-34 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in the opener. Their next game will be against the Miami Dolphins, where Detroit aims to continue improving its performance ahead of the NFL regular season.
Without Goff on the field, Campbell decided to give backup quarterbacks playing time and didn’t hesitate to pull quarterback Hendon Hooker early due to two turnovers. The Lions head coach explained the reasons behind that decision.
Campbell’s explanation
“Just turning the ball over. That was the big one. Look, Hooker made some good throws before. He was doing a few things, but we’ve got to get more work taking care of the ball,” Campbell explained according to a transcript from the official site after the win over the Falcons.
Hendon Hooker #2 of the Detroit Lions plays against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ford Field on November 17, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan.
“You decide you’re going to be a runner, you’ve got to tuck it away like any runner does. Two hands on the ball in the pocket when you go to step up, so it’s all the fundamentals that we talk about. So, we just need more work at that, and then he’ll get to play,” Campbell continued.
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Kyle Allen, on the other hand, had a strong performance
Unlike what Hooker showed, Allen completed 9 of 14 passes in the Lions’ win and earned praise from Campbell. “I thought Kyle played really well, man, I was fired up. That was outstanding. He comes in the game, he wasn’t going to play until the second half, and we get him in there,” said the Lions head coach.
