The Detroit Lions recorded their best regular season in franchise history by finishing 15-2, securing the top seed in the NFC playoff race.

Despite the strong regular season, the Lions were upset by the Washington Commanders in the divisional round, crushing hopes of a first-ever Super Bowl appearance.

One major factor in the defeat was the absence of several starters due to injuries, most notably their top defensive star, Aidan Hutchinson.

Hutchinson endured a gruesome leg fracture earlier in the season during the Lions’ blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Losing their premier pass rusher dealt a devastating blow to the team—one that proved difficult to recover from.

The defensive standout, however, appears on pace to return to action with the Lions when the new season kicks off this fall.

Hutchinson recently shared a workout video on his Instagram, sparking excitement among Lions fans eager for the upcoming season. The former first-rounder captioned the video highlights, “Feelin like myself again.”

The Lions and head coach Dan Campbell will rely heavily on Hutchinson being fully healthy if they want to build on last season’s success.

The NFC North is only getting tougher, with former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson now leading the Chicago Bears. Detroit will aim for a third consecutive NFC North title this season.