Hendon Hooker to Make NFL Preseason Debut

By Tucker Harlin

The first full weekend of NFL preseason football is here and its first day will feature exciting action for Tennessee fans.

Former Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker is scheduled to make his first appearance in an NFL game Thursday with the Detroit Lions.

Hooker has been rehabbing since the end of the 2022 season after suffering an knee injury in Tennessee’s loss at South Carolina.

Lions starter Jared Goff will have the night off, and veteran Nate Sudfeld is Detroit’s third option as a signal caller.

To add to the fun for Vol fans, the Lions are playing the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium, meaning Hooker can reunite with his favorite college target Jalin Hyatt.

The combo was responsible for Tennessee’s victory over Alabama in 2022, the Vols’ most important victory in recent years.

Elsewhere, the Carolina Panthers travel to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots. Vols are on both sides, although the two involved aren’t nearly as big of fan favorites as Hooker and Hyatt.

For Carolina, tackle Cade Mays could see the field some. He played a decent amount last season, but injuries were a concern last season.

The Patriots will play Joe Milton at some point tonight. Despite the love/hate relationship between Milton and Tennessee fans, it should be fun to watch Milton throw deep passes in the preseason the way he did in Knoxville.