Detroit Lions defensive star Aidan Hutchinson will not receive any additional discipline from the NFL following an incident in last week’s defeat to the Minnesota Vikings.
When the league released its list of fines for Week 9 on Saturday, Hutchinson’s name was notably absent. Although other players were fined for tripping penalties, the NFL decided that the Lions’ edge rusher did not deserve further punishment for his flag during the game.
Hutchinson’s Flag for Contact with J.J. McCarthy
During the Lions’ 27–24 loss to Minnesota, Hutchinson was penalized 15 yards after extending his leg to bring down Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The officials immediately threw a flag for tripping, but upon review, the league concluded the play did not merit a fine.
This isn’t the first time Hutchinson has escaped further penalties from the league office. Earlier in the season, he was flagged for a late hit on Patrick Mahomes during Detroit’s matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, but the NFL also declined to issue a fine afterward.
The defensive end has been fined in the past, though — most notably last season, when he was charged $11,473 for a hit against the Carolina Panthers.
Detroit Looks to Regain Momentum
Detroit’s recent loss to the Vikings prevented them from overtaking the Green Bay Packers atop the NFC North. Despite falling half a game behind, the Lions remain firmly in contention, though they have already matched last year’s loss total.
Head coach Dan Campbell expressed a positive outlook after the setback, saying he doesn’t mind his team flying under the radar for now.
“It’s kind of nice to be the afterthought again,” Campbell told reporters via the team’s official site. “We’ll just keep working in our corner, fix what needs fixing, and come out strong. That’s good for us.”
Campbell also reminded his players that expectations naturally rise after a 15-win season.
“When you only lose two games one year, every loss after that gets magnified,” he said. “So I told the guys to be ready for that kind of pressure.”
Looking Ahead to Washington
The Lions’ next challenge comes against a Washington Commanders team dealing with key injuries. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow in last week’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks and will miss Sunday’s contest, though Washington opted not to place him on injured reserve.
Detroit, meanwhile, has its own injury concerns, especially in the secondary. Cornerbacks Khalil Dorsey and D.J. Reed were recently placed on IR, and safety Kerby Joseph is sidelined with a knee issue.
