Hendon Hooker spent a lot of time this spring learning the finer points of playing quarterback in the NFL.

He changed his footwork. He devoured the Detroit Lions' playbook. And after playing primarily in a no-huddle offense at Tennessee, he took a crash course in commanding a huddle.

"He’s never really done it and it’s not just going in there and calling a play," Lions quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell said. "It’s the communication, it’s the eye contact, it’s how you use your voice. It’s the timing, the rhythm of getting the play call. There’s a lot that goes into it.

"I think what those guys, those other 10 guys are looking at the quarterback, what do they see? Do they see confidence? Do they see a young quarterback that can barely get a play called? But there’s a lot to that and he has gotten better as time has gone on, and he’ll only get better and better at that."

IN THAT HUDDLE: Lions OL coach: Penei Sewell 'reminds me a lot' of Hall of Famer Joe Thomas

The Lions closed the open portion of their offseason program with a light workout Tuesday on their second-to-last practice of organized team activities.

Most veterans left town last week, including Jared Goff and Nate Sudfeld, and before Hooker took every offensive rep of practice at quarterback, Brunell said he was pleased with how far the Lions' second-year signal caller has come in his first full offseason as a pro.

The Lions took Hooker in the third round of last year's draft, but Hooker did not practice with the team until after Thanksgiving as he rehabbed from the torn ACL he suffered in college.

He did not play in any games last season.

"It’s been really good for him," Brunell said. "And Hendon, he’s such a hard worker, very coachable, good attitude. Everything you’re looking for in a young quarterback. He’s been great, and he’s a pleasure to be around. He’s good in the room. Liked by his teammates, respected by his teammates. He comes out here and he works really hard. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do and what’s great is that he’s gotten better over the course of the spring and you see that on the field, so I’m excited about him."

Hooker took the bulk of second- and third-team reps during OTAs and mandatory minicamp as the Lions rush to get him ready for the season.

He had a rocky showing in practices open to reporters with veterans this spring and took two would-be sacks — both by offseason standout Mitchell Agude — at the start of Tuesday's 5-minute team period, but his struggles were to-be-expected in many ways and Brunell said there was growth beneath the rough patches.

"I don’t know if I could pinpoint one area where we’ve seen the most growth," Brunell said. "I think just his presence in the huddle has improved significantly. His understanding of our concepts and the intent of the plays that are being called by Coach (Ben) Johnson and what we’re trying to accomplish out there. He just has a much better feel at this time then he did a year ago."

Hooker spent several minutes talking to assistant quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett after practice Tuesday and remained in conversation as he walked off the field.

NOW WHAT? What Jared Goff's contract extension means for Lions backup QB Hendon Hooker

He completed all five of his passes in the day's seven-on-seven period and threw a nice deep ball to tight end Sean McKeon in team period, but finished the day with a high pass for an incompletion.

Passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand said Hooker showed "drastic improvement" over the course of the spring, and said the quarterback still is getting used to a significant change the Lions made to his feet.

"He comes from a different system at Tennessee in college where really he was almost standing still, almost like sitting in cement at times when there was no movement going on and he’s just waiting, where now it’s things are in rhythm and timing," Engstrand said. "The routes should be coming open at a specific time in his drop and the ball needs to be thrown at those times. So for him to really have that where it’s, he's not having to think about what drop I’m taking it’s just naturally flowing, 'I’m in this drop, this is the concept ... and we can get rid of the ball on time and in rhythm.' So I think as that just becomes second nature to him, you’ll continue to see the improvement there."

Hooker is a presumptive lock to make the 53-man roster, though he'll have to compete with Sudfeld for the No. 2 quarterback job.

When training camp opens in July, Brunell said the Lions will be counting on more growth from a player they still view as having tremendous upside.

"Just understanding our offense even more," Brunell said. "He’s going to get a lot of opportunities, I imagine, in the preseason and his job as a quarterback is the same as it is for every quarterback, move the team. Make good decisions with the ball, take care of the ball first and foremost and be on time, be accurate, understand the situation. Just quarterback stuff. We have high expectations for him, and preseason that’s what we hope to see and we hope to see it out at the practice field as well."

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: What Detroit Lions QB Hendon Hooker has been working on this offseason