By Sunday 
If there’s one thing Detroit Lions fans can count on, it’s that Aidan Hutchinson does not stay down for long.
The 6-foot-7 defensive juggernaut had a “what could have been” season in 2024 — terrorizing quarterbacks, racking up sacks like coupons on double-discount day, and anchoring a defense that had Super Bowl energy… until it all came crashing down.
A Painful Pause on a Breakout Season
In what should’ve been a highlight reel year for the former No. 2 overall pick, Hutchinson’s rise was halted in Week 5 after suffering a gruesome leg injury — fracturing both his tibia and fibula in a blowout win over Dallas.
At that point?
He was on a heater:
- 7.5 sacks
- 17 QB hits
- 19 tackles
- 1 forced fumble
Let that sink in. That was just through five games.
Instead of rewriting record books, Hutchinson was forced into rehab mode. Lions fans collectively held their breath, wondering if he’d still be that same explosive nightmare for offensive lines.
“Exactly Where I Need to Be”
Fast forward to July 2025, and Hutchinson is not only back — he’s got that I’m-coming-for-blood tone in his voice.
“I’m exactly where I need to be,” Hutchinson told CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson. “Every year I’ve been able to improve on my own physical attributes along with the mental ones… Despite having that rehab this offseason, I feel like I’m in the perfect spot.”
That’s not the kind of quote you drop unless your offseason grind was next level.
What This Means for the Lions
Let’s be honest — Detroit’s 15-2 regular season in 2024 was incredible. But the Divisional Round loss to the Commanders exposed one thing: without Hutchinson, the defense wasn’t scary anymore.
Now with Kelvin Sheppard stepping in as the new defensive coordinator and Hutchinson returning at full strength, there’s every reason to believe the roar is about to return.
Head coach Dan Campbell is eyeing more than just another NFC North crown. He wants a Super Bowl run. And having Hutchinson back in the lineup for Week 1 against the Packers?
That’s the first chess piece falling into place.