In the wake of the Detroit Lions’ commanding 47-9 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6, Fox Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz disclosed that edge rusher Aiden Hutchinson underwent emergency surgery for a fractured tibia sustained during the third quarter.
The injury, a severe one, will sideline the formidable pass rusher for the remainder of the season. Prior to his exit from the game, Hutchinson had made a significant impact, recording three tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, and three quarterback hits against Dallas.
The nature of Hutchinson’s injury was so harrowing that Fox chose not to air any replay footage during the live broadcast. The incident occurred as Hutchinson, gaining momentum off the edge, secured a sack on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. The force of his speed resulted in a tragic collision with teammate Alim McNeil’s knee, causing his leg to bend unnaturally as he hit the ground.
Following the announcement of his season-ending surgery, an outpouring of support and prayers emerged for the former No. 2 overall pick, who now faces a challenging recovery journey.
“Heartbreaking news. Such a bright future. Prayers to Aiden Hutchinson. Confident he will return and be better. He has the dog in him,” one fan expressed.
“Prayers for Hutch, man,” another supporter commented.
“Wow. Brutal for the Lions. Praying for a speedy recovery,” remarked a third.
“Such sad news! What a night they were having. Praying for a swift and complete recovery!” exclaimed another user.
“Huge loss. Prayers for a full recovery,” added one more.
Hutchinson’s absence poses a significant challenge for Detroit’s defense, currently ranked 22nd in the league. The 24-year-old had entered Sunday’s game leading the NFL in sacks (6.5), sack yardage (49), pressures (40), and hurries (27).
In the wake of his injury, defensive ends Marcus Davenport (seven pressures, three hurries, three QB hits, and 0.5 sacks) and Josh Paschal (four pressures, three hurries, and three QB hits) are anticipated to step up and assume a larger role in bolstering Detroit’s pass rush.