The Detroit Lions are riding the momentum of two consecutive historic seasons. Despite parting ways with both their offensive and defensive coordinators, expectations remain incredibly high for this year. Detroit has shown noticeable improvement, and fans are counting on it to continue.
Star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions confirmed he’s fully cleared to resume football activities:
Speaking to the media for the first time since his season-ending leg injury last year, the Pro Bowler was visibly thrilled to be back in action.
Hutchinson shared that his rehab went smoothly without any major setbacks. He always believed he’d return to form after the serious tibia and fibula fractures he suffered in Week 6 against Dallas.
“I’m back on the field with the guys now, and I finally feel like myself again,” Hutchinson said Thursday. “I’m genuinely excited for this season. I don’t think I’ve ever looked forward to OTAs like this before. Being away for so long made me miss the game like never before.”
After a stellar start in 2024, Hutchinson had to be carted off during the Lions’ Oct. 13 game against the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. During his recovery, he faced a mix of emotional, physical, and spiritual challenges.
“In those moments, you try to focus on any positive you can find to make sense of it all, but deep down, you still wonder, ‘why?’” Hutchinson said. “That’s when I turned to faith. It was a very tough stretch for a few months.”
“You want to be in the mix during a winning season, and even if you’re technically on the team, not playing makes you feel distant. Once I could stand again, I made every effort to be engaged.”
Hutchinson was an early candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. Despite sitting out the last 12 games, he tallied 7.5 sacks in 2024—more than any Lions player in five games since William Gay in 1983, per ESPN Research.
Before Week 6, the former No. 2 overall pick led the league in sacks, pressures, and pass rush win rate—even after Detroit’s bye. He was chasing the 22.5 single-season sack record shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. Hutchinson believes he can still reach that level.
“People might think that’s my peak, but I don’t see it that way,” Hutchinson said. “I’m only 24—I’m still young and far from done growing as a player.”
Hutchinson wasn’t the only big defensive loss for the Lions last year. Despite other injuries to players like Alim McNeill and Carlton Davis III, Detroit still finished with the NFL’s No. 7 ranked defense.
