Six months after a devastating leg injury prematurely ended Aidan Hutchinson’s season, he returned to the Detroit Lions practice facility following an extensive rehabilitation. The Lions’ premier defensive talent is eager to prove to the coaching staff he’s fully recovered and ready to return to the team and the game he loves.
Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson Returns Stronger Than Ever
For the second time in his football career, the 6’7” 268 lb. EDGE is coming back after suffering a devastating season-ending injury. Last year’s injury could not have come at a worse time. Before breaking his tibia and fibula in a Week 6 game against the Dallas Cowboys, Hutchinson enjoyed a career-best season as the presumed 2024 Defensive Player of the Year.
In the five weeks before the injury, Hutchinson had a league-leading 7.5 sacks along with 19 tackles (12 solo) and a forced fumble to his credit. Seeing the Lions’ defensive leader go down with such a gruesome injury and be carted off the field was an excruciating blow.
The dual fractures required immediate surgery in a Dallas hospital, and his recovery was only beginning. However, Hutchinson knew he could make a full recovery.
Having been there once before, Hutchinson knew he would have to adhere to a strict regimen and rehabilitation schedule following the surgery. Rehab is not for the faint of heart. The healing process can be brutal and punishing. It takes hard work, discipline, and perseverance to return to full strength following a season-ending injury.
Returning Better Than Ever
During his junior year as a University of Michigan Wolverine, Hutchinson fractured his right ankle. The injury forced him to miss the final six games of the 2020 season and undergo extensive rehabilitation. But it paid off when he returned the following year.
In his senior year, Hutchinson was sensational, earning the highest defensive grade from PFF College awarded to a player. That season, he played better than ever and racked up multiple awards and accolades, including the Lombardi Award and the Ted Hendricks Award. A runner-up for the 2021 Heisman Trophy, Hutchinson was named to the All-Big Ten Team, voted the Big Ten Most Valuable Player and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and was a unanimous choice All-American.
It was an amazing accomplishment and even more impressive considering he was returning from such a serious injury. But that previous experience prepared him when disaster struck once again. Having made a full recovery once before, Hutchinson knew what was possible and had the proper mindset. He committed to doing what was necessary to rehabilitate and recover fully.
His coach at Michigan, Jim Harbaugh , now coaching the Los Angeles Chargers , never doubted him. At the NFL Annual Owners Meeting in April, he spoke to reporters about Hutchinson. ”He’ll come back stronger, faster, quicker and more relentless,” Harbaugh said at the league meetings . “That’s his makeup.”
Are Broken Bones Medically Stronger?
Medical evidence suggests that a broken bone has the potential to heal and be stronger than before it was broken. This occurs because mineral deposits known as a callus form at the site of the break. The callus can act as a magnet to attract calcium, creating an even stronger bond at the site of the initial injury. Hutchinson’s complete recovery from his ankle injury five years ago lends credence to this theory.
There is no evidence of lingering ankle weakness impacting his performance as a superior athlete. Instead, you have a conscientious, motivated athlete on his way to achieving a full recovery. At the time of his injury last fall, he was told it would be a minimum of a four to six-month recovery period. Upon hearing that, Hutchinson set an aggressive goal to make it back in time for the Super Bowl if the Lions were playing.
But when Detroit prematurely exited the playoffs following their unexpected loss to the Washington Commanders, that scenario never materialized. Instead, Hutchinson spent several months adhering to a disciplined rehabilitation schedule. Occasional social media posts of him walking in a swimming pool or sprinting at the Lions’ training facilities surfaced to chart his progress.
A New And Improved Hutchinson
It’s hard to imagine an athlete picking up right where he left off before a serious injury but there are reasons to believe that Hutchinson won’t just equal last years production, he’ll surpass it. He’s already impressed the Lions coaching staff upon his return.
Defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers expressed to reporters, “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. Then to see where he is right now is just — this guy, he’s a trooper.”
This Could Be The Lions Year
One of the major reasons why Hutchinson could surpass last year’s productivity is that he’s surrounded by superior talent. Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell are confident in the players they have on defense. The return of a healthy Marcus Davenport and the emergence of a raw but talented young rookie, Ahmed Hassanein , could play a big role in diverting attention away from Hutchinson. Fans are also holding out hope that Za’Darius Smith rejoins the Lions under a newly restructured contract. While it would be amazing to see Hutchinson and Smith paired as a dynamic duo, that may not happen.
Nonetheless, it doesn’t take much for a player of Hutchinson’s caliber to wreak havoc for the opposition. If the Lions defense stays healthy, this could be the year that a fully recovered and re-energized Hutchinson takes it all the way, becoming the Defensive Play of the Year and helping the Lions bring the Lombardi trophy home to Detroit.
Main Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
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