Despite the Detroit Lions’ impressive 47-9 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Texas on Sunday, October 13, the celebration was dampened by the serious injury to defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who broke his tibia during the game.
Now, head coach Dan Campbell has shared some positive news, announcing that Hutchinson, who had already tallied 7.5 sacks for the season, has returned to Michigan after spending several days in Texas receiving medical treatment. In a press conference on October 16, Campbell gave more insight into Hutchinson’s recovery.
Aidan Hutchinson Is Facing a Situation That’s ‘Still Pretty New’
“I talked to him yesterday, and he’s doing well,” Campbell shared. “He’s still trying to process everything; it’s all pretty new. He’s asking, ‘What’s next? Where do I go from here?’ Which is understandable. He’s in a hospital bed with his leg propped up, but he’s back, and I know he didn’t want to be away for too long.”
Campbell continued, “He mentioned the possibility of coming back when the timing is right, and he knows he’s welcome here anytime. We’d love to have him back. The whole team misses him—he’s a crucial part of what we do, and we all feel for him. We’ll see how things go.”
The Detroit Lions May Look to Bolster Their Defensive Line
The Lions have been hit hard by injuries on the defensive side of the ball, with players like Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Kyle Peko, and John Cominsky all sidelined. Campbell acknowledged that the team is open to adding reinforcements but emphasized they won’t rush into any decisions.
“I think it’s about doing your homework,” Campbell explained. “You’re looking at film, digging into options, and assessing what’s available. Sometimes, you check on a player, and they’re only available for 24 hours. Brad (Holmes, general manager) is on it, though. He’s exploring everything, but we’re not in a hurry. We’ll take our time.”
Acquiring a top-tier edge rusher midseason is no easy task, and finding the right fit can be challenging. Still, Campbell expressed confidence that Holmes is evaluating all potential moves, balancing “trade value” and “contract” when considering new additions.
“Brad understands what it would take to bring someone in,” Campbell said. “I don’t have all the details, but I know that if you’re talking about a highly productive, 6-foot-6, 285-pound edge rusher who runs a 4.4 with 35-inch arms, those guys don’t just appear out of nowhere.
You’d have to ask yourself—do you want to trade Hutch for that player? Trade value and contract are big factors, and we have to think about the long-term impact, especially with other players we’re looking to sign in the future.”
