The Detroit Lions suffered a massive blow to their defense and Super Bowl hopes in Week 6 after star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson suffered a serious injury that will knock him out for several months.
After the 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys, it was revealed that Hutchinson has a broken tibia, which will sideline him for several months. The former No. 2 overall pick had immediate surgery on the injury in Dallas on Sunday night.
While we won't see Hutchinson for quite some time, there is at least some hope that he hasn't played his last snap this season. However, for that to even be possible, the Lions have to make the deepest playoff run in team history.
Aidan Hutchinson injury update
UPDATE: While someone in Hutchinson's camp was optimistic that the star edge rusher could be back in time for the Super Bowl if the Lions managed to make it that far, ESPN's Adam Schefter offered a different report, saying that Hutchinson's season is over, as the typical recovery for Hutchinson's particular injury is six-to-eight months. The Super Bowl is less than four months away.
Schefter's report adds that a rod was placed in Hutchinson's leg and he suffered both a broken tibia and fibula. The team initially said it was just the tibia.
End of update
Per both Michael Stone of 97.1 The Ticket and Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News, a person close to Hutchinson revealed that while the injury is of course serious, it might not have been the worse-case scenario.
Adding to that, there is a belief that Hutchinson could be back if the Lions can make a run to the Super Bowl.
"A source close to Hutchinson told The Detroit News on Sunday that the injury appears less severe than a worst-case scenario and Hutchinson might be able to return for the Super Bowl, should the Lions make it," Silva and Bianchi wrote.
A close member of @aidanhutch97 told me the following.
— michael stone (@stoney16) October 14, 2024
Even though it looked bad, it’s less of an injury than he suffered in college. Pretty soon he will be bionic.
when we make it to the Super Bowl, he will be ready to go.
It isn't outlandish to think the Lions could still make a push for the Super Bowl, but that will be much more difficult without Hutchinson. Making matters worse, the Lions are also without Marcus Davenport, who is likely out for the season.
Related: Could Lions really pull off a Maxx Crosby trade?
The trade deadline is rapidly approaching, so there is hope that Detroit could make a big splash to breathe life back into its pass-rush. But landing a player even close to the caliber of Hutchinson will be extremely difficult.
The good news is, general manager Brad Holmes has the draft capital to bring in whoever the top option available is, and Detroit has the cap space to fit in a big contract.
