Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson cleared to return after gruesome leg injury

Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson cleared to return after gruesome leg injury

Aidan Hutchinson is back and ready to go. 

The Lions’ star pᴀss rusher is fully cleared after a long recovery from a horrific fractured tibia and fibula injury he suffered Week 6 against the Cowboys.

“I’m rolling with the boys now and it feels like I’m back to being myself again,” Hutchinson said Thursday, per ESPN. “I’m really looking forward to the season. I think this is the most excited I’ve been for OTAs in my life. This is the biggest hiatus I’ve had without playing ball, so I’m pumped.”

Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions reacts after a second quarter sack against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field on September 24, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan.
Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions reacts after a second quarter sack against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field on September 24, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. Getty Images

Hutchinson, 24, was off to the best start of his young NFL career when he went down on Oct. 13 in Dallas, registering 7.5 sacks through just five games. 

The Michigan product had vowed to return if the Lions made the Super Bowl before Detroit fell to the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round.

“In those moments, you try to look at all the silver linings that you can in order to make it make sense a little bit and still, at the end of the day, you’re still questioning, ‘why?’” Hutchinson said. “That’s why you dive into faith, and that’s kind of what I did, and it was a very challenging time for a few months.

Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) rushes against Terence Steele (78) during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) rushes against Terence Steele (78) during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. AP

“You want to be a part of the winning that was going on, and as much as I was part of the team, when you’re not really there, you don’t really feel like you’re a part of it. When I kind of was able to get back on my feet again, that’s why I was trying to be as involved as I could.”

Now, Hutchinson will rejoin a Lions franchise that once again has hopes for its first-ever Super Bowl appearances.

“I think a lot of people believe that that is kind of my ceiling, but I still believe that I’m gonna continue to push for those greater heights,” Hutchinson said. “I’m 24, I’m still a young dude and I don’t think that’s the peak.”

Hutchinson will anchor a Detroit defense that has a new coordinator, Kelvin Sheppard, on the sideline after Aaron Glenn took the Jets’ head coaching job.

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