Aidan Hutchinson had a devastating leg injury last year that prematurely knocked him out for the season. The Detroit Lions star pass rusher’s recovery is going well though and is ready to rock and roll for training camp.
That’s what Hutchinson said ahead of the Lions reporting this summer. He’s where he needs to be ahead of his fourth season with Detroit.
Hutchinson was a missing piece, among many, to Detroit’s defense in 2024. Despite a No. 1 seed, the Lions lost in the NFC Divisional Round but Hutchinson is ready to return and rectify any errors.
“I’m exactly where I need to be,” Hutchinson told CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson this week. “Every year I’ve been able to improve on my own physical attributes along with the mental ones, so I feel like every year I take a step. Despite having that rehab this offseason, I feel like I’m in the perfect spot and exactly where I need to be going into Year 4.”
Kelvin Sheppard is the new defensive coordinator after Aaron Glenn left for the New York Jets’ head coaching vacancy. Hutchinson isn’t concerned about any changes when he returns from injury.
“A.G. and Ben, they did a great job. They were really amazing for us these past few years,” Hutchinson said. “But at the end of the day, the majority of our team is still intact for all the cornerstone pieces and ultimately, that’s the most important part. As long as you’re keeping your key pieces on both sides of the ball, that’s what matters. … As long as they put us players in positions to make plays, that’s all that matters. As players, we’re just got to make ’em.”
Hutchinson played just five games last season, but played 17 games in each of his first two seasons. However, he totaled 7.5 sacks through five games in 2024, putting him on pace to have a fantastic season.
Hutchinson has 28.5 sacks in 39 career games, so there’s no doubt he’s a key piece, if not “the” piece for the Lions on defense. His return in 2025 will only help their Super Bowl aspirations.
Had the Lions advanced to Super Bowl LIX last year, Hutchinson was planning on coming back to play.
“I’m on track for my goal of returning for the Super Bowl,” Hutchinson said on “The Squeeze” podcast earlier this year. “And so, I keep telling all the boys when I see them in the facility, I’m like, ‘You guys just gotta get there and I promise you, I’m gonna be back.’ I tell people that and my mom — I remember we were talking yesterday and she’s like, ‘Aidan, what if you don’t get back? Like, what if you can’t.’ And I was like, ‘There’s no other way.’”
