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New York Jets signing QB Hendon Hooker to practice squad

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones12/18/25brianjones_93

Hendon Hooker is joining the New York Jets to close out the 2025 season. On Thursday, the Jets announced that they have signed the veteran quarterback to the practice squad.

Before joining the Jets, Hooker was on the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad. He signed with the Panthers in August and was released on Nov. 4.

Hooker entered the NFL in 2023 after the Detroit Lions selected him in the third round of the NFL Draft. He did not see any action during his rookie year because he was recovering from an ACL injury, but the former Tennessee Volunteers star played in three games in 2024 and completed 6-of-9 passes for 62 yards. Hooker was waived by the Lions on Aug. 25, and the Panthers signed him two days later.

With Hooker signing with the Jets, he is reunited with head coach Aaron Glenn. When Hooker was with the Lions, Glenn was the team’s defensive coordinator. Glenn became the Jets’ head coach this season after spending three seasons in Detroit.

Hooker was a standout player at Tennessee. In 2022, Hooker was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year after completing 69.6 percent of his passes for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns, and two interceptions in 11 games.

Will Hendon Hooker play for the Jets this season?

The question now is, will Hooker see any action in the Jets’ final three games of the year? The quarterback room includes Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor, and rookie Brady Cook. Glenn recently announced that Cook will be the starting quarterback, as they are in evaluation mode.

“This game, I feel like I want to continue to evaluate him and see exactly how he’s going to operate on a consistent basis,” Glenn said this week, per Susanna Weir of the Jets’ official website. Cook has played in the last two games, but his first start came last weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“It’s an opportunity for me to lead this team once again and try to go get a win on the road,” Cook said on Wednesday, per Jack Bell of the Jets’ official website. “And it’s really as simple as that. It’s about this week, preparing this week, and playing on Sunday in New Orleans. That’s how I’m looking at it.