Detroit Lions’ star linebacker Aidan Hutchinson reconnected with his brother and hasn’t seen the field since sustaining a massive leg injury in the Lions’ 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys Sunday.
Hutchinson, who has been an integral part of the Lions’ defensive revival, was sacked in the third quarter by Dak Prescott. The unmistakable damage meant Hutchinson had to be dragged off the field on a backboard, in front of fans and other players.
On Monday, the Lions released a statement confirming Hutchinson underwent successful surgery to repair a fractured tibia and fibula at Baylor White Medical Center in Irving, Texas. The statement read, “Aidan Hutchinson underwent successful surgery to repair a fractured tibia and fibula last night. He will return to Detroit this week and is expected to make a full recovery. There is no timeline for his return to play at this time.” [Detroit Free Press].
Despite the severity of the injury, Lions head coach Dan Campbell expressed optimism about Hutchinson’s recovery. “He’s in good hands right now,” Campbell told reporters. “Obviously, he’s going to be down for a little while. That’s tough. That’s hard to lose somebody like him, but we’ll know a lot more after this. We wish him the best.”
Hutchinson was in his element prior to his injury as the NFL leader in sacks 7.5. Also, he added 19 tackles in all and a forced fumble, ranking him as one of the league’s most effective defenders. However, the injury has ruled him out for the remainder of the regular season, and no timeline is established for his return.
The third-year Pro Bowl pick has been a mainstay for the Lions’ defense since being drafted with the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Hutchinson went off for 9.5 sacks and three interceptions as a rookie, finishing second in Defensive Rookie of the Year [ESPN].
The Lions will be hurt by Hutchinson’s absence if they remain in playoff contention but hope he fully recovers and comes back for the season.
