The first two years of Detroit Lions star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson's career were very impressive, but he looks set to take his game to another level in 2024.
After tallying one sack and a whopping 11 pressures in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams, Hutchinson followed that up with a 4.5-sack performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2 that included three sacks in the first quarter alone. Somehow, Hutchinson was snubbed for Defensive Player of the Week award.
Hutchinson has caught the attention of the NFL world (except for whoever votes on the aforementioned award) with his fast start that has him leading the league in both sacks and pressures, and that includes future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt, who knows a thing or two about getting after quarterbacks.
“The guy’s a beast. He’s a freak,” Watt said on The Pat McAfee show. “It’s awesome to watch. He clearly works on his game. He’s got some great technique, some great tactics.”
“He had three sacks in the first quarter,” Watt added. “You’re sitting on that bench feeling immaculate. Just sitting there like, ‘This is great.’ Then you go out there and you play a little more loose, you play a little more free, and all of a sudden there he ends up with 4.5 (sacks). Big, big day for him.”
It would not be at all shocking to see Hutchinson take that next step and cement himself as an elite pass-rusher in the NFL. After all, he had a sensational rookie campaign and improved in his second season, so he was clearly on that trajectory.
Hutchinson will look to keep the good times rolling in Week 3 when the Lions travel to the desert to take on the Arizona Cardinals.
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