Aidan Hutchinson -- one of the NFL's best defensive players prior to a midseason leg injury in 2024 -- hasn't seen live game reps in nine months.
This fact can lead most to one of two oversimplified conclusions regarding Hutchinson's status entering the 2025 season: He's rusty or well-rested. Why not ask the man himself?
"I'm exactly where I need to be," Hutchinson told CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson this week. "Every year I've been able to improve on my own physical attributes along with the mental ones, so I feel like every year I take a step. Despite having that rehab this offseason, I feel like I'm in the perfect spot and exactly where I need to be going into Year 4."
Hutchinson said in May he was fully cleared to return from the season-ending broken fibula and tibia suffered in October, which abruptly ended a red-hot run for the former No. 2 overall pick that had seen him rack up 7.5 sacks and 30 QB pressures (16.8 QBP percentage) in just five games. Hutchinson was compiling a strong case for Defensive Player of the Year when it all came to a halt, sending him down a long road of recovery that included an outside chance of returning in time for a possible Super Bowl appearance if the Lions had reached the season's final game.
Detroit fell short of that mark, which might have been best for Hutchinson because it bought him more time to properly recover before returning to the field. Now, it's only a matter of time before he suits up and attempts to pick up where he left off.
When he returns, he'll have to adjust to some slightly different surroundings. Both coordinators (Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn) have left for head coaching jobs elsewhere, and Kelvin Sheppard is the new defensive coordinator for the Lions.
The changes have opened the door for slight concern to creep into the picture. Hutchinson, however, isn't worried.
"A.G. and Ben, they did a great job. They were really amazing for us these past few years," he said. "But at the end of the day, the majority of our team is still intact for all the cornerstone pieces and ultimately, that's the most important part. As long as you're keeping your key pieces on both sides of the ball, that's what matters. ... As long as they put us players in positions to make plays, that's all that matters. As players, we're just got to make 'em."
If we've learned anything from Hutchinson's first three NFL seasons, it's that he'll make plenty of plays. Now healthy, he expects that to continue in 2025.
