Back at NFL Honors the Thursday night before Super Bowl LIX, Steve Wyche of NFL Media captures Detroit Lions Aidan Hutchinson and Jared Goff talking to Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett. In light of Garrett making his trade request public on Monday of that week, speculation about Garrett being recruited was easy.
Back before Christmas Hutchinson was on "The Squeeze" podcast, hosted by actor and Lions fan Taylor Lautner and his wife Tay. He was back as the guest on the latest edition of the podcast, which was recorded during Super Bowl week in New Orleans, and he talked about the much-speculated about conversation with Garrett.
"If me and Myles were to pair up, that would be deadly, you know?” Hutchinson said. “I was talking to him, we were at the Honors and we were just talking about what could be. And although it’s probably unlikely, I think I would be thrilled to play next to him if it were to happen. But, yeah, our whole d-line would be like totally elevated and we would—whew—that’d be a scary defensive line.
“We get along, too. I’ve seen him these last few years at different things", Hutchinson continued. "He texted me after I got hurt, which was just a cool thing. Guys outside of your own team who reach out to you—so I think he’s a good dude. If he does (come), great, but I don’t know. We’ll see. But that would be awesome.”
Hutchinson maintained the obvious thought that Garrett is unlikely to join the Lions, as the Browns have not notable pivoted off the idea they won't trade him. But is early in the offseason, and Garrett putting public pressure on the Browns is notable.
Hutchinson's interview with the Lautners obviously came before he posted the video of him running on the Lions' indoor practice field earlier this week. But he did have an update then that seems to have come to fruition.
"I’ll be cleared in a couple weeks now,” Hutchinson said. “I’m just about at that point where everything is looking good, but just a couple more weeks to finalize everything, I’d say.”
Hutchinson expects to be ready for OTAs this spring.
"Yeah, absolutely,” Hutchinson said. “I cannot wait to play football again, dude. I cannot wait, because my last game was in October. So the second I that can get back out there—even practice. Practice is alright, but once I step back in there for Week 1, whenever that is, that is what I look forward to.”
Hutchinson's segment starts about the 31:50 mark of the video below.
