Detroit Lions star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson appears to have marked a major turning point in his recovery from a gruesome leg injury that ended his 2024 campaign prematurely. He suffered a broken tibia and fibula in Week 6, requiring emergency surgery and a stint on IR to close out the season.
Hutchinson addressed his progress in the rehab process with reporters late in May.
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“What’s the next hurdle for you in terms of getting back to doing everything?” one reporter asked.
“I’m fully cleared,” Hutchinson replied.
Hutchinson led the NFL with 7.5 sacks at the time of his injury, well on his way to a viable campaign to win 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year — an honor that instead went to Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II. Through five games, Hutchinson had amassed 7 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble and 19 combined tackles.
Since drafted by the Lions with the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Hutchinson totaled 28.5 sacks and is due for a monster contract extension — though the timeline of that extension became foggy after suffering that season-ending injury in 2024. The team picked up his fifth-year option back in April, which means he’s currently signed through the 2026 NFL season.
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