The Detroit Lions notched arguably their most impressive win of the 2024 season on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, but the team didn't get through it without a major loss following a serious injury to star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
During the third quarter of the 47-9 win, Hutchinson sacked Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, but in the process he suffered gruesome leg injury that was so ugly we didn't dare include the video here.
Hutchinson eventually had his left leg put into an air cast and was carted off the field in what was a truly awful sight to see. Players on both teams surrounded Hutchinson, showing obvious concern for what was no doubt a serious injury.
After the game, the Lions confirmed that Hutchinson has a broken tibia and had to have immediate surgery, per Kyle Meinke of MLive.com.
"He's being taken care of. He'll stay back here (in Dallas), he's being taken care of. Obviously, he's going to be down for a little while," head coach Campbell said, per Nolan Bianchi and Richard Silva of The Detroit News. "So that's tough, man. It's hard when you lose somebody like him. But we'll know a lot more after this and obviously wish him the best."
It hasn't been officially confirmed yet, but Hutchinson will likely miss the rest of the 2024 season, as the recovery from surgery and the rehab process will take several months. It goes without saying Hutchinson's injury is a devastating blow for the Lions' defense, and for Detroit's Super Bowl hopes.
Hutchinson is not only the unit's best player, he's the heart and soul of it. There is no replacing a player the caliber of Hutchinson, but general manager Brad Holmes will definitely be working the phones between now and the Nov. 5 trade deadline to try and add edge rush help.
Hutchinson is the second major injury the edge rush group has seen this season, as veteran Marcus Davenport suffered a season-ending elbow injury in Week 3.
