Aidan Hutchinson Cleared for NFL Return: Lions Update

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00:00And in Detroit, Aiden Hutchinson making his way back to the turf as well.

00:05A significant leg injury last year that shortened his season after only five full games,

00:11which of course was a huge story for the Lions all year long.

00:16The significant and devastating injuries, namely defensively,

00:19that was too much for Detroit to overcome in that divisional round game against the Commanders.

00:24But good news, early in the offseason in the Motor City,

00:28Aiden Hutchinson has been cleared to resume football activities.

00:32Let's hear from Hutch himself.

00:34I got cleared a while back and now I'm just, I'm rolling with the boys now.

00:40And it feels like, it feels like I'm back to being myself again.

00:44And yeah, I'm really looking forward to the season.

00:48I'm looking forward to, I mean, I think this is the most excited I've been for OTAs in my life.

00:53This is the biggest hiatus I've had without playing ball.

00:56So I am, I'm pumped.

01:01Sensational early on DRS in his year and a half in the National Football League.

01:05Aiden Hutchinson excited for year number three.

01:08And obviously if he can remain healthy, a fearsome pass rusher,

01:11that does a lot to elevate Detroit status.

01:14It was a monster last year before he got injured.

01:17Like who knows how many sacks he would actually put up in the season.

01:20Fantastic.

01:20Got a high motor, but also say this, like we saw the videos coming out, Ben.

01:25And to me, it's like, hey man, Hutch is coming back.

01:27Dude looked like he couldn't run.

01:28Like I know what they're posting.

01:29I'm getting closer.

01:31And even the latest video, like, oh, Hutch looks good.

01:33Does he look good?

01:34Like they're posting like Nick Chubb videos.

01:35Hey, look at how hard he's working out.

01:37Guy looks like he's dragging his leg behind him.

01:40I hope all the best for Hutchinson because that guy is an absolute menace.

01:43But from what I've seen so far, it don't look like he's back yet.

01:46Now we are talking in May.

01:48Still got June and July and August till September.

01:51Maybe that leg gets even better.

01:52But I was looking at the workouts that he was doing.

01:55Like, yeah, he's running.

01:57But my goodness, he is laboring with that leg.

02:00Three years in the NFL.

02:02My apology.

02:02About to be year number four for Aiden Hutchinson during week six last year.

02:07That significant leg injury fractured both his tibia and his fibula.

02:12Basically the two large bones that anchor the entirety of your ankle throughout your knee,

02:18even to the upper thigh.

02:19So when you fracture both in the way that Aiden Hutchinson did,

02:22thus a serious injury and a long recovery.

02:26The fact he has already been cleared.

02:27Great.

02:28But of course, still going to build that up DRS as he gets ready for 2025.

02:32And to Donnie's point, only five full games last year for the Lions.

02:37Had seven and a half sacks in those first five games.

02:41He was on an absolute heater and a tear to start the year for the Lions.

02:46And Donnie, Detroit is a fascinating team to me.

02:49Once again, entering 2025.

02:52Because largely, the cast and crew remains the same.

02:56In some of those injuries they had last year, if they can be healthy this year,

03:01that's a huge and significant bump for Detroit.

03:04Not just Aiden Hutchinson, Aleem McNeil, on the interior of that defensive line as well.

03:11But when you look at the Lions and their win total of 10 and a half this year, that's great.

03:15The under has the juice, the second best price to win the NFC,

03:20only behind the reigning champs in the Philadelphia Eagles.

03:22It does feel as though there is not nearly as much optimism as there should be

03:27for a 15-2 football team a season ago.

03:32And part of that, of course, is because of the turnover in their coordinators.

03:36Ben Johnson, the head coach in Chicago.

03:38Aaron Glenn, the head coach in New York.

03:40Yeah, the brawn is still with the organization.

03:44The brains, they're gone.

03:45Offensively, maybe the best offensive coordinator in football.

03:48Innovative is all get out.

03:50You're not going to replace that.

03:51And you had a defensive coordinator that really had to –

03:53look, he was playing with two hands tied behind his back

03:55with all the injuries that they had, and it completely fell apart in the playoffs.

03:59But now let's see what Dan Campbell can do,

04:01because I know he has the ear of that football team.

04:03He brought Detroit football back.

04:05That's fantastic.

04:06But now it's up to him to resurrect that offense and defense here

04:09with two new voices in the locker room.

04:12That's always tough to do.

04:13Hey, remember when the Philadelphia Eagles should have beat the Kansas City Chiefs

04:16in the Super Bowl, lose a couple coordinators here?

04:18What do we do the next year?

04:18We're completely fall apart because a lot of the brains have left the organization.

04:22We're not knocking and saying they can't win or can't win 11 games

04:25or make a run to an NFC championship game or even win a Super Bowl.

04:28But that's why we're a little bit down on them,

04:30because Ben Johnson was dialing up bangers every single week,

04:35every single drive.

04:36That's not there.

04:37You can't replicate it.

04:38I don't care if you have the same offensive personnel.

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