The Detroit Lions achieved a remarkable 47-9 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6, but it wasn’t without a significant setback. Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions’ star defensive player, suffered a severe leg injury that forced him to be carted off the field.

The injury happened when Hutchinson tackled Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott during the third quarter. Hutchinson had quickly penetrated past right tackle Terence Steele. Unfortunately, as he rounded the corner, his left leg collided with his teammate Alim McNeill’s leg.

His leg buckled upon impact. Although Hutchinson managed to complete the sack, he immediately fell to the ground in pain, clutching his injured leg.

Medical teams from both the Lions and Cowboys attended to Hutchinson as everyone on the field looked on. His leg was secured in an air cast before he was taken off the field, receiving supportive farewells from players on both teams.

Later, the Lions disclosed that Hutchinson had broken both his left tibia and fibula, an injury that will keep him sidelined for an extended period. The Lions will need to find a suitable replacement for him in their lineup.

Recovery Timeline for Aidan Hutchinson

The Lions announced on Monday that Hutchinson had successfully undergone surgery to fix his leg injury. Although the team didn’t specify a timeframe for his return, head coach Dan Campbell indicated that Hutchinson’s recovery is expected to take 4 to 6 months.

There are reports suggesting that Hutchinson might make a comeback for the Super Bowl if the Lions qualify, and Campbell mentioned that the possibility remains open. “We will move forward, but let me say this. It’s 4-6 months; I would never count Hutch out. Ever,” Campbell stated. “It’s a long road, but if anyone can do it, it’s him.”

While the specific timeline remains vague, Campbell is keeping all options on the table.

“Aidan Hutchinson had successful surgery last night to repair his fractured tibia and fibula at Baylor White Medical Center in Irving, Texas,” stated the Lions via their social media. “He will return to Detroit this week and is expected to have a full recovery. No timeline for his return to play has been established yet.”

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Hutchinson’s injury is likely to sideline him for the entire 2024 season.

On a positive note for Lions fans? Rapoport also mentioned that Hutchinson “should be fine for 2025 based on the initial assessment.”

The Lions will closely track Hutchinson’s recovery while being cautious with a player who was anticipated to be the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year. Fans can tentatively mark Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season as a hopeful return date for Hutchinson.

Aidan Hutchinson’s Performance Stats

Here’s a summary of his performance through five games in 2024:

• Tackles: 19
• TFL: 7
• Sacks: 7.5
• Force fumbles: 1

Throughout his 39-game career, Hutchinson has recorded 28.5 sacks, accumulating 122 tackles and 30 TFL in his first two-plus seasons in the league.

Depth Chart for Lions’ Defensive Ends

With Hutchinson out, the Lions have limited options at the edge defender position. They also lost free agent Marcus Davenport to a torn triceps and John Cominsky to an MCL tear over the summer, leaving them short three of their top four edge defenders.

Currently, the Lions have only three players on their 53-man roster who generally play at defensive end and one hybrid defensive lineman. The players are:

• Levi Onwuzurike
• Josh Paschal
• Isaac Ukwu
• James Houston

The Lions elevated Ukwu from their practice squad for the first time before Week 6. The undrafted rookie was played ahead of Houston, who has been a healthy scratch for the second time in five games this season. Both players are expected to join the rotation, which will now primarily rely on Paschal, a second-round pick from 2022, who has recorded three sacks in 27 games, and Onwuzurike, a versatile player splitting time between defensive tackle and end.

To bolster their depth, the Lions are expected to sign a player from free agency or their practice squad. They have veteran Al-Quadin Muhammad, who has 12 sacks in 84 games (34 starts), alongside Mitchell Agude and Cam Gill, who also have NFL experience.

Overall, the Lions are merely assembling a defensive end rotation as they have struggled to do for most of the season. Hutchinson’s absence will further complicate their efforts.