After going from perennial laughingstocks to legitimate contenders over the last two years, the Detroit Lions could be poised for their best season yet. They boast an excellent running back duo in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, a deadly wide receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown and an emerging WR2 in Jameson Williams.
Even better, their defense has made major strides over the last couple of years. But how well that Detroit defense performs this fall and winter will largely hinge on defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson's recovery from the fractured leg he suffered in Week 6 of last season.
During an appearance on "Up & Adams," he told host Kay Adams that he's been feeling like his old self for a while.
"Even when I was out there, they were like, 'Oh, he's not out there for real. He's not out there 100%.' I'm like, yes, I am. I'm okay, guys. We're good. I'm over it. Even being at OTAs, I haven't missed a practice since being back. I felt 100%. I think I'm over it. I think people need to see me back in action for them to get over it."
Hutchinson was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 draft and has been one of the game's brightest young defensive studs ever since. He made the Pro Bowl in 2023 by posting 11.5 sacks, 33 quarterback hits, 14 tackles for loss, seven passes defended and three forced fumbles, and he was bound for bigger and better things last year.
In just five games in 2024 prior to his leg injury, he had registered 7.5 sacks, 17 QB hits and seven tackles for loss. Even after he got hurt, the Lions went from 23rd in points allowed in 2023 to seventh in that category in 2024 as a number of young prospects in their secondary stepped up.
They now have two Pro Bowl safeties in Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. But they badly need pressure up front against opposing quarterbacks, and Hutchinson is the man to provide that vital ingredient.
The Lions emerged as a contender in 2023 by finishing with a 12-5 record, and they were minutes away from their first Super Bowl appearance before they blew a second-half lead to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. Last year, they won 15 games, but they fell in stunning fashion in the divisional round to the upstart Washington Commanders.
The NFC North has just gotten tougher after the Green Bay Packers landed star pass rusher Micah Parsons on Thursday and the Minnesota Vikings brought back wide receiver Adam Thielen while also adding veteran quarterback Carson Wentz as insurance. But if healthy, Detroit should have what it needs to win the division for a third straight season and perhaps even claim the franchise's first Super Bowl championship.
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