The Detroit Lions may not have room on their active roster for Nate Sudfeld this season, but the veteran signal-caller is anticipated to play a major role in the quarterback room. Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports predicted that the Lions would only maintain two quarterbacks on the active roster, relegating Sudfeld to the practice squad. However, the coaching staff has already signaled that Sudfeld would not be a typical third-stringer this season.
Lions Trimming Quarterback Room
After maintaining three quarterbacks on the active roster for much of the 2023 season, Payton anticipated that the Lions may reduce their roster size this season. Jared Goff is established as the starter, and second-year quarterback Hendon Hooker is slated to back him up, but the team may not have room for another quarterback on the roster. “No surprises here,” Payton stated. “Goff and Hooker will be the Lions two quarterbacks with Nate Sudfeld sticking with the team to be their practice squad guy.”
The “practice squad guy” could carry more importance this season after the league changed a rule allowing teams to call up an emergency quarterback from the practice squad rather than the active roster. That means if Sudfeld were to be released and re-signed to the practice squad, he could provide important depth should Goff and Hooker both go down with injuries.
However, Sudfeld could be more than simply an insurance policy this season. According to SI.com’s Vito Chirco, Lions quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell stated in June that he may play a major role in helping Goff stay on track.
