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Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions didn’t record a single tackle during the Detroit Lions’ win against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t help. In fact, one of his teammates feels that Hutchinson is a major benefit to the team in more ways than one.
Speaking to Jim Rome, Alex Anzalone touched upon the impact that Hutchinson has on Detroit’s defense, saying that he “changes the game completely.” Like all Detroit fans, he is very relieved that Hutchinson is healthy again.
“It’s great to have him back. He just changes the game completely. He can win these one-on-ones with ease, and then when he gets double-teamed, he’s able to even win those. It helps us out a lot in coverage. I’m excited to be playing with him again and him move on from the injury,” Anzalone said.
"He just changes the game completely."@AlexAnzalone34 praises Aiden Hutchinson's impact on the @Lions defense. pic.twitter.com/93Ym9VRWNf
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) November 11, 2025
It’s been a busy season for Hutchinson, even if he has gone without a tackle in two games this season. The 25-year-old defensive end is now recovered from the severe leg surgery he had last year, one that derailed him and threw his future into doubt.
The Lions are hoping he can get back to the numbers he used to produce, such as the 7.5 sacks per game and 19 total tackles that he produced in 2024. Because of their belief in him, Detroit picked up the fifth-year option on Hutchinson’s contract.
He is now set to earn about $20 million this year and agreed to a four-year contract moving forward. This is a sign of how pivotal he will be for Detroit’s defense moving forward.
To Anzalone’s point, Hutchinson is a vital part of the team and has a resilient attitude and spirit that allows him to improve his team’s chances greatly. Every member of the Lions is happy he’s back, healthy, and fighting hard again.
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