After suffering a devastating leg injury near the end of the 2024 season, Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is now fully cleared for football and mentally locked in ahead of what could be a huge 2025 campaign.
The star pass rusher broke both his tibia and fibula in a Week 15 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys — a crushing blow for both Hutchinson and the Lions as they marched toward the playoffs. At the time of the injury, Hutchinson had already racked up 7.5 sacks and was one of the most disruptive forces on the field.
Now, he’s ready to pick up right where he left off.
> “Despite having that rehab this offseason, I feel like I’m in the perfect spot and exactly where I need to be,” Hutchinson said during an appearance on With the First Pick podcast. “Every year I’ve gotten better, and this is no different.”
Hutchinson wasted no time in recovery. After undergoing emergency surgery, he started pool therapy, slowly worked back into running six months later, and now feels fully prepared to hit training camp at full speed.
His return couldn’t come at a better time.
The Lions finished 2024 with a franchise-best 15-2 record, but their playoff hopes collapsed in the Divisional Round against Washington — a game where the defense struggled without Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, and Carlton Davis. With Hutchinson healthy again, Detroit regains not just a top-tier pass rusher, but a vocal leader and tone-setter on defense.
And he’ll need to bring all of that. The 2025 schedule is no joke — featuring early road tests against Green Bay, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Washington, and Philadelphia. The Lions’ defense has to be ready from Week 1.
If Hutchinson returns to the form that had him in Defensive Player of the Year discussions early last season, Detroit will once again be a serious NFC contender.
And from the sound of it, he’s more than ready.
Hutchinson’s Back — And Detroit’s Defense Just Got Its Heartbeat Again
