By Moses Joshua 
Rehabbing from a brutal leg injury, Detroit’s defensive cornerstone is already turning heads at OTAs—and primed for a historic return.
A Relentless Climb Back to the Top
Aidan Hutchinson isn’t easing his way back—he’s attacking his return like he attacks quarterbacks.
After a devastating leg injury wiped out the final 12 games of his 2024 campaign, the Detroit Lions’ Pro Bowl defensive end is once again making noise. This time, it’s for how quickly—and completely—he’s rebounding. According to CBS Sports, Hutchinson is among five key NFL players expected to “storm back” in 2025. And if early signs are any indication, he’s not just coming back—he’s coming for quarterbacks.
“The former first-round draft pick went from solid and scrappy to downright spectacular between 2022-2023,” wrote CBS’s Cody Benjamin. “But a serious leg injury cost him… robbing a favored Super Bowl contender of its top defender.” Still, Benjamin believes Hutchinson’s “technically sound play style” and “supernatural” rehab give him every chance to return to prolific sack production in Detroit.
Elite Production Before the Injury
Before going down in Week 5 against Dallas, Hutchinson was on pace for a season that could have shattered records.
In just four and a half games, he racked up 7.5 sacks and 45 pressures—both league-leading marks at the time. He was not just a disruptor; he was a wrecking force for opposing offenses. His ability to bend the edge, time his moves, and finish at the quarterback had analysts projecting a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber campaign.
Then came the crushing blow—literally. A broken tibia and fibula at AT&T Stadium ended his season, dealing a major blow to the Lions’ Super Bowl hopes.
Redemption Season in Sight
Now, Hutchinson is back at organized team activities, and according to new defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers, he’s already showing signs of his old self—and then some.
“I’m sitting here just imagining what this guy went through, what he worked on to get back in case they made it to the end last year and didn’t,” Rodgers said to reporters. “Then to see where he is right now is just — this guy, he’s a trooper.”
At just 24 years old, Hutchinson still has the prime of his career ahead of him. And with no clear elite pass-rushing partner opposite him—yet—he may be asked to do even more than before.
Key Takeaways
- Aidan Hutchinson was leading the NFL in sacks and pressures before suffering a season-ending injury in 2024.
- He’s now fully participating in OTAs and showing off impressive progress.
- CBS Sports and the Lions’ own staff believe he’s poised for a dominant comeback in 2025.
- If healthy, Hutchinson could challenge for league-leading sack numbers and help anchor a Detroit defense with Super Bowl aspirations.
The Bottom Line
The NFL already knows what Hutchinson can do when he’s healthy. But after a year of adversity, rehab, and resolve, he’s poised to take that ability to new heights. With his technique intact, his motor revved up, and his body battle-tested, Aidan Hutchinson isn’t just ready to return—he’s ready to dominate.