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Detroit Lions sign QB Jake Fromm to practice squad

The Detroit Lions have made a decision on a third quarterback, signing quarterback Jake Fromm to their 16-man practice squad.

Fromm will back up starter Jared Goff and second-year pro Hendon Hooker, and provide the first-team defense with looks in practice during game weeks.

Fromm joined the Lions during the middle of training camp as insurance after Hooker suffered a concussion, and did not take practice snaps with the offense when it was open to the media, but impressed the coaching staff with his ability to pick up the offense quickly and execute in the final preseason game.

Fromm impressed against the Steelers, completing six of eight passes for 89 yards in two drives.

"Fromm — man I like Fromm," head coach Dan Campbell said Saturday after the preseason finale, a 24-17 win. "The kid can play a little ball, there’s something about him. He understands where his answers are at, what to do with the football."

ANALYSIS: Lions fans should say their prayers because backup QB situation isn't promising

The Lions brought back Fromm over veteran Nate Sudfeld, who started training camp as the backup quarterback ahead of Hooker. Sudfeld started the Lions' first two preseason games and played the first half before sitting out of the preseason finale. He signed with the Lions ahead of the 2022 season on a one-year deal to serve as the backup quarterback, appearing in two games, before missing all of 2023 with a torn ACL suffered in training camp.

Fromm is the fifth reported player to join the Lions' 2024 practice squad so far, joining former Broncos receiver Tim Patrick, edge rusher Mitchell Agude, center Kingsley Eguakun and receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones. The Lions can sign 16 players max to the practice squad.

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Detroit Lions quarterback Jake Fromm (18) walks off the field after 24-17 win over Pittsburgh Steelers at a preseason game at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, August 24, 2024.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jake Fromm (18) walks off the field after 24-17 win over Pittsburgh Steelers at a preseason game at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, August 24, 2024.

Fromm will likely stay on the practice squad barring an injury to Goff or Hooker.

Earlier this week, the NFLPA vetoed a change to the emergency third quarterback rule, which would have allowed teams to elevate a third quarterback an unlimited number of times from the practice squad.

Instead, it will follow the 2023 rules, which states "an emergency third QB must be on the 53-man roster or as one of two standard elevations per week. An elevated QB would have to be active for the game rather than in the emergency role. A player can be activated three times per season."

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Jared Ramsey is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press covering the city's four professional teams, the state's two flagship universities and more. Follow Jared on X @jared_ramsey22, and email him at jramsey@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions sign QB Jake Fromm to practice squad