The Detroit Lions lost arguably their most important player during their Week 6 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. While the Lions blew out the Cowboys 47-9, star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson suffered a devastating leg injury that will sideline him for the foreseeable future.
What is the latest on Hutchinson’s status, and is there a chance he can return this season?
What Is Aidan Hutchinson’s Injury?
Hutchinson sacked Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott near the start of the third quarter in Week 6, and when his leg made contact with Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill, it appeared to snap.
Immediately, it was clear that the injury was serious. FOX refused to show the replay because it was so gruesome, and his teammates began kneeling as the Lions’ medical staff put an air cast on Hutchinson’s leg. He was carted off the field and ruled out.
A replay of the injury can be seen below, but be warned that it is incredibly gruesome.
Here is the play on which Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson is hurt:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 13, 2024
Hutchinson suffered a fractured tibia and fibula, which required surgery.
He has been ruled out for the rest of the regular season, but that doesn’t necessarily mean his 2024 campaign is over.
When Will Aidan Hutchinson Return From Injury?
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Lions believe Hutchinson has a realistic chance of returning for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans if the Lions reach it. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport echoed this sentiment, saying “there is a real chance” Hutchinson could play in the big game since his fracture was a clean break with no ligament damage or nerve damage.
On Sunday, Oct. 20, Hutchinson shared an update in a video posted to social media.
“We are one week out from surgery. The first days were a little rough, but now we are on the road to recovery and just attacking each day,” Hutchinson said.
“I want to thank all of the kids who made me videos. I want to thank all my teammates, all the fans, all of the support all over social media. It’s been amazing and I’m doing great, just pushing through. I got to see the Lions win today; it’s a big win. I’m so happy for ’em, and we’re going to keep pushing and just taking this thing day by day.”
On Oct. 23, Lions head coach Dan Campbell appeared on the Rich Eisen Show and discussed Hutchinson’s injury and potential return timeline.
“He’s doing alright. That’s tough, man. When you’re playing at a high level like he is, and he’s one of the outstanding players in this league and having a really good year, and that type of injury happens, it’s tough,” Campbell said.
“It’s tough to process. It’s tough to process the injury itself. ‘How bad is this? What is this? Am I gonna be able to come back? What am I gonna look like when I come back? Can I come back this year or next year?’
“I said it before. If anybody is gonna come back better than he was before, it’ll be this guy. He’s a workaholic. He’ll grind on it, and he’ll do whatever it takes to come back better than he was, so that’s why I feel good about where he’s gonna be when it’s all said and done.”
Thanksgiving brought a small milestone in Hutchinson’s road back. As CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson noted, Hutchinson arrived at a game without crutches for the first time, signaling tangible progress in his recovery.
How Has Aidan Hutchinson’s Absence Impacted the Lions?
Losing Hutchinson was a brutal blow to the Lions, as he is their best defensive player. At the time of his injury, he was the favorite for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Hutchinson got hurt while recording sack No. 7.5, which was the most in the NFL at the time. Remarkably, that total is still more than double any other player on the Lions entering Week 14.
Hutchinson manufactured much of his sack production on his own. He generated pressure on a league-league 23.6% of his pass rushes, nearly five percentage points better than second-place Micah Parsons and more than double the league-average rate. Hutchinson also ranked first among edge defenders in pass-rush win rate (34%).
However, the Lions have not only survived, but thrived without Hutchinson. Since Week 7, Detroit ranks first in both EPA per play and success rate on defense. They’ve managed a respectable 36.2% pressure rate in that span, which ranks 10th-highest in the league. Detroit is 7-0 without Hutchinson and in the midst of its franchise record-tying 10-game win streak.
The margins get thinner later in the season, and it’s conceivable the Lions miss Hutchinson’s presence in late January or February (if he’s unable to return). But at least for the regular season, the Lions have been the class of the NFC — with or without their best defender.