The Detroit Lions could be without their star pass rusher for a long time after Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson suffered a gruesome injury during the third quarter of Sunday’s blowout against the Cowboys, with his left leg appearing to snap as he was sacking quarterback Dak Prescott and collided with a teammate.
Hutchinson was taken off the field on a cart, with trainers putting on an air cast almost immediately in what was seen as a grim sign for his future. Players from both teams gathered on the field to show their support as Hutchinson was taken off.
Though the Lions did not give a detailed diagnosis, there were immediate fears that Hutchinson suffered a fracture that could keep him out the remainder of the season.
Lions Could Suffer ‘Crushing’ Blow
Hutchinson had been a cornerstone of Detroit’s defense, leading the team with 7.5 sacks at the time he suffered the injury. Derick Hutchinson of ClickonDetroit noted that a long absence for the star defensive end could sink the team’s Super Bowl hopes.
“While the severity of the injury hasn’t officially been disclosed, it sure feels like Hutchinson will be out long-term,” Hutchinson wrote. “Hutchinson is perhaps the most important player on the roster, and this injury is a crushing blow to the Lions’ Super Bowl hopes.”
Hutchinson has been the team’s most consistent pass rusher since joining the Lions as the second overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, registering 28.5 total sacks and earning a trip to the Pro Bowl last season.
The third-year player also became a vocal leader on the defense, saying before the season that he believes the team’s Super Bowl window has arrived.
“I think everyone has put everything into this upcoming year, and I feel like for the years to come as well, because it’s not our last year we’re all playing,” Hutchinson said. “There’s a lot of great players on this team, and I think we could just have repeated success over the next few years.”
Lions Thin Around the Edges
Before Hutchinson’s injury, some insiders suggested the Lions may need to make a move at the trade deadline to add depth. The Lions struggled to establish a consistent pass rush outside of Hutchinson, leading Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder to suggest the team could seek a trade for New York Jets edge rusher Haason Reddick.
Holder noted that the Lions lost veteran edge rusher Marcus Davenport to a season-ending injury, increasing pressure to make a move.
“Marcus Davenport is out for the season, which is a crushing injury for the Lions since he was supposed to be the defense’s second edge defender and take some of the pressure off Aidan Hutchinson,” Holder wrote in a September 30 story. “That leaves the cupboard pretty bare, so the front office should see if it can swing a deal with the Jets.”
If Hutchinson were to miss an extended time, it could increase the urgency for the Lions to make a move for more depth. The team is already in the thick of playoff contention, moving to 4-1 with Sunday’s win over the Cowboys.
