Breaking news: Detroit Lions announces the return of favorite star from injury.

Late in the previous season, the Detroit Lions were on the verge of reintroducing great edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson to the field, but their intentions were dashed by an early playoff departure.

The team’s new defensive coordinator is already making hints about a more significant comeback in 2025. The pass rush struggled for the rest of the season after the team’s best defensive player suffered a fractured leg in October, but a remark from Kelvin Sheppard is giving Detroit fans fresh hope.

“Back” is Aidan Hutchinson.
After Aaron Glenn left to seek a head coaching position with the New York Jets, Sheppard was promoted to defensive coordinator and seemed thrilled about the group he inherited. Despite losing Hutchinson and several other important players, the Lions had one of the league’s most aggressive defenses the previous season.

As the club approaches the required component of their offseason activities, Sheppard provided a good report on Hutchinson, who has been working out on his own. “I can tell from Hutchinson’s workouts that his leg is back to full form,” the defensive coordinator told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

“Look, you know how I know you’re back?'” I remarked when I walked over there alone. “How?” he asks. “Said Sheppard.” “Because when you run that hoop, you’re touching that ground,” I remarked. He performs that small thing as if he were a magical cat, which is exactly what he is. However, I said, “Big Dog, that’s how I know you’re back.”

Kacy Rodgers, the defensive line coach, presented the evaluation and said Hutchinson worked hard to get back on the field.

According to the Detroit Football Network, Rodgers remarked, “He looks really good.” “I’m sitting here just imagining what this guy went through, what he worked on to get back in case they made it to the end last year and didn’t. Then, it’s clear that he is a soldier pro based on his current location.

If the club had made it that far in the playoffs the previous season, Lions head coach Dan Campbell intimated that Hutchinson may have returned for the Super Bowl. However, the early playoff loss freed him up to concentrate on his recovery in order to be ready for the 2025 campaign.

Aidan Hutchinson was much missed by the Lions.
After Hutchinson’s injury in October, the Lions found it difficult to consistently provide pressure to opposing quarterbacks. No other player came close to matching Hutchinson’s 7.5 sacks, despite the fact that he only played in five games prior to his horrific injury during a victory against the Dallas Cowboys. Za’Darius Smith, a midseason addition, provided 4.0 sacks, but no other player had more than 3.5.

Despite making up for Hutchinson’s injury and finishing the season with a league-best 15-2 record tied with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Lions lost to the Washington Commanders in the playoffs. The Commanders scored 45 points while the Lions failed to handle rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, failing to sack him once.

Given that Smith was released earlier this year, several experts speculate that the Lions may need further assistance in the upcoming campaign.