The Detroit Lions achieved a decisive victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, but faced a major setback on the defensive front.
Star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson sustained a severe leg injury in the third quarter of the Week 6 matchup. The injury occurred while he was sacking quarterback Dak Prescott, causing his leg to bend awkwardly after colliding with teammate Alim McNeill’s leg.
Hutchinson immediately reacted by clutching his leg after hitting the ground, removing his gloves, and remaining on the field as the Lions’ medical team attended to him.
The game experienced a notable delay while Hutchinson stayed down. Eventually, he was transported off the field via cart towards the Lions’ locker room.
Players from both the Lions and Cowboys gathered around to offer their support to Hutchinson as he was taken off the field.
Regarding Hutchinson’s condition, the Lions swiftly announced he would be out due to what they classified as a “lower leg injury,” which was expected given the horrific nature of his injury.
In the postgame conference, head coach Dan Campbell confirmed that Hutchinson had broken his tibia. He also mentioned that the 2023 Pro Bowler would remain in Dallas for further evaluation of his injury.
Campbell stated that Hutchinson was in “good hands” but did not provide a specific timeline for his recovery, noting, “It’s hard when you lose somebody like him… but we wish him the best.”
With Hutchinson sidelined, Isaac Ukwu is expected to take on the role of the primary backup edge rusher. James Houston is also on the roster but was inactive for the game against the Cowboys.
The Lions were already short on edge rushers prior to Hutchinson’s injury due to Marcus Davenport’s torn triceps earlier in the season. With Hutchinson out, they now have only Ukwu and Josh Paschal available.
The team will likely seek to bolster their edge depth in response to Hutchinson’s lengthy expected recovery period.
In the game against the Cowboys, Hutchinson recorded one sack and three quarterback hits, raising his season total to 7.5 sacks after entering Week 6 with a previous high of 6.5 sacks.