Report: Detroit Lions Sign Veteran QB in Free Agency

As reported by Mike Garafolo from NFL Network, the Detroit Lions They are bringing aboard experienced quarterback Kyle Allen. An agreement has been reached with the 29-year-old player; however, specific contract details haven’t been disclosed yet.

Allen went undrafted in 2018, and has since bounced around five different franchises. He spent two years, with the Carolina Panthers , two with the Washington Commanders , and has dedicated the last three years to working with the Texans , Bills, and Steelers Last year in Pittsburgh, he was the third-string quarterback following Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.

Allen has participated in a total of 31 games, starting in 19 of them; however, his most recent start was with the Texans in 2022. Throughout his career, he has thrown for 4,753 yards after completing 442 out of 705 pass attempts (a completion percentage of 62.7%), achieving an average yardage per attempt of 6.7 yards. He also recorded 26 touchdown passes against 21 interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 82.3 over his career. In terms of wins and losses during his 19 starts, Allen’s team holds a record of 7 victories, 12 defeats, and zero ties.

Certainly, his inclusion adds an element of interest and significance. Besides Jared Goff, the Lions also have two reserve quarterbacks: Hendon Hooker, who was selected in the third round of the 2023 draft, and Jake Fromm. Allen stands out among these backups due to his wealth of experience. In contrast, Fromm has only played in three games (starting twice) way back in 2021. Meanwhile, Hooker hasn’t started any games but did play in three matches last year. Having a veteran presence in the quarterback room can be invaluable for aiding the main signal-caller by offering mature insights into the game. The Lions have previously appreciated this kind of guidance from players such as David Blough, Nate Sudfeld, and Teddy Bridgewater.

Yet it’s fair to start wondering what this means for Hooker. While he missed most of his rookie season due to injury, he looked rusty during 2024 training camp. It’s possible Allen will help push his development along, or perhaps he will truly be in contention for the backup job. Either way, the Lions’ quarterback situation just got a little more interesting.