Sudfeld completed 13 of 24 passes for 96 yards but also threw an interception. Much of his success came late in the game when he was reinserted after Hooker was injured and faced the Giants’ third-team defense.
Nate Sudfeld started the game for the Detroit Lions but had a rough start, struggling with accuracy and missing open receivers. The Lions failed to get a single first down in the first quarter with Sudfeld at quarterback, and the team managed only 24 passing yards in the entire first half.
After the game, head coach Dan Campbell expressed his disappointment in Sudfeld’s performance.
“There are some decisions in there that I would like to see be better,” Campbell said, as reported by Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire. “I expect more from him. I’m not overly concerned yet about the accuracy given the conditions—wet ball and all—but there are just a couple of decisions in there that I know he can improve on.”
While Sudfeld struggled, Hendon Hooker provided a spark, leading the offense on a 14-play, 88-yard drive that just missed reaching the end zone. Hooker showed he has the ability to create plays, something Sudfeld lacked in this game.
Sudfeld had been the more consistent quarterback throughout the offseason, making him the favorite for the backup role going into the preseason opener. However, after this performance, the gap between him and Hooker has narrowed.
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