The Detroit Lions are coming off back to back historic seasons. Even after losing both of their offensive and defensive coordinators, expectations remain sky high this season. Detroit has gotten better at football, and fans expect it to stay.
As it turns out, the Lions had some big news to announce on Friday.
Breaking: Lions Announce Huge Addition Prior To The 2025 NFL Season
Detroit Lions star Aidan Hutchinson says he is cleared to return to football activities:
The Pro Bowl edge rusher, speaking to reporters for the first time since last year’s season-ending leg injury, couldn’t hide his excitement about reentering the mix.
Hutchinson said he didn’t have any setbacks during the lengthy rehab process, adding he always knew he would get back to normal form after suffering a gruesome fractured tibia and fibula injury in Week 6 at Dallas.
“I’m rolling with the boys now and it feels like I’m back to being myself again,” Hutchinson said Thursday. “I’m really looking forward to the season. I think this is the most excited I’ve been for OTAs in my life. This is the biggest hiatus I’ve had without playing ball, so I’m pumped.”
After a strong start to the 2024 season, Hutchinson was carted off the field at AT&T Stadium against the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 13. During his time away, Hutchinson pushed through psychological, physical and spiritual hurdles while fighting back.
“In those moments, you try to look at all the silver linings that you can in order to make it make sense a little bit and still, at the end of the day, you’re still questioning, ‘why?'” Hutchinson said. “That’s why you dive into faith, and that’s kind of what I did, and it was a very challenging time for a few months.
“You want to be a part of the winning that was going on, and as much as I was part of the team, when you’re not really there, you don’t really feel like you’re a part of it. When I kind of was able to get back on my feet again, that’s why I was trying to be as involved as I could.”
Hutchinson was an early frontrunner to win the Defensive Player of the Year award last season. Despite missing Detroit’s final 12 games, he still finished with 7.5 sacks in 2024, which were the most through five games by a Lions player since William Gay in 1983, according to ESPN Research.
Entering Week 6, the former No. 2 overall draft selection also led the NFL in sacks, pressures and pass rush win rate even with the Lions coming off their bye week in Dallas. He was chasing the NFL’s single-season sack record of 22.5 held by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt and had a legitimate shot. He has no doubt that he can pick back up where he left off.
“I think a lot of people believe that that is kind of my ceiling, but I still believe that I’m gonna continue to push for those greater heights,” Hutchinson said. “I’m 24, I’m still a young dude and I don’t think that’s the peak.”
Hutchinson wasn’t the only key loss last season on the Lions defense, which still managed to finish as the NFL’s No. 7 overall defense despite injuries to several key players, including Alim McNeill and Carlton Davis III.
For All NFL And College Football Content:
Follow me on X (formerly Twitter) at @mcquadewarnold. Also, do not forget to follow us at On Twitter for even more great football content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in the world of the NFL – especially with all the trade rumors swirling around and free agency news – college football, and more, click here!
