Aidan Hutchinson is steadily recovering from a broken leg, and that noise you heard is NFL offensive tackles collectively bracing themselves.
The 2024 campaign will always be remembered as a season of “what could have been” for Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson. Before breaking his left fibula and tibia in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys, he had already recorded 7.5 sacks.
Saying someone was “on pace” can be tricky, but Hutchinson was trending toward breaking the NFL’s single-season sack record, which would’ve made him a clear favorite for Defensive Player of the Year.
Back in February, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Hutchinson as the early favorite to win both Defensive Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year for 2025. That awards combo has never happened, but there’s belief Hutchinson can achieve it if fully healthy.
It’s now been nearly seven months since Hutchinson suffered his major leg injury. While updates have consistently been optimistic, they haven’t shown the full extent of the tough rehab he has described.
Earlier this month, a new video showed Hutchinson sprinting at the Lions’ indoor practice facility with hardly any visible restriction. He wasn’t quite at top speed, but his smooth change of direction marked major progress.
On Thursday, Jim Kielbaso—author, speed/strength coach, and founder of Impact Sports Performance—shared an Instagram clip of Hutchinson training, captioned, “Out the cage. Let the hunt resume.”
The Lions began their offseason program just over a week ago, and it’s unclear whether Hutchinson is participating. The next OTA phase, including on-field drills (7-on-7 and 9-on-9 without pads), will be more telling from May 28–30 and June 3–5. Because of the Hall of Fame Game and early start, Detroit has canceled mandatory minicamp.
Hutchinson’s availability for voluntary activities might also depend on his contract situation. A lucrative extension is coming, though negotiations are reportedly complex. When asked if other edge deals (like Micah Parsons or T.J. Watt) are affecting talks, GM Brad Holmes gave no clear answer.
“Yeah, no, that’s a fair question. But unfortunately we just don’t have any control over that,” Holmes said via SI.com. “If he (Parsons) gets his deal done, he gets his deal done, but we have our internal communication and process and plan in place. So you just—you can’t control those other things.”
Regardless, a healthy Hutchinson poses a major threat to offensive linemen this season. His message is clear—he’s coming back to dominate just like before the injury.
