The Detroit Lions' defense has been as banged up as any starting unit in the National Football League in recent months as linebacker Malcolm "Rodrigo" Rodriguez suffered a torn ACL vs. Chicago on Thanksgiving Day amid other injuries.
Detroit lost their biggest star on defense, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, to a broken leg earlier this season prompting the former Michigan Wolverines star and number two overall draft pick to hit the rehab trail in recent weeks.
On Thursday, reporter Tracy Wolfson shared an update on Hutchinson's progress that flew under the radar, lost in the hoopla and hyperbole surrounding the Bears' botched late game drive that cost them a chance to win.
Wolfson shared that Hutchinson did something entirely new that constitutes a milestone in his recovery and has inspired hope for a possible return to the field should Detroit make it to Super Bowl LIX.
"And good news for his recovery...arrived (Thursday) to the game without crutches for the first time!" Wolfson wrote on her X account.
"If was told if #Lions make the Super Bowl there is a chance (for his return)!" Wolfson added.
The man known as 'Hutch' currently ranks number 14 in the NFL in sacks on the season with 7.5 despite playing in just five games, less than half of league leader Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals.
New Lions trade acquisition Za'Darius Smith has seven on the season, half a sack less than the injured Lions superstar.
