Could the Detroit Lions look to acquire a former All-Pro to fill the void left by Aidan Hutchinson?
During their impressive 47-9 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7, the Lions faced a setback as star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson suffered a knee injury. He was stretchered off the field and ruled out for the rest of the game.
After being taken to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Irving, Texas, Hutchinson was diagnosed with fractures in both his tibia and fibula. Doctors expect him to be sidelined for four to six weeks, placing him on injured reserve.
Despite head coach Dan Campbell’s “next man up” approach, reports indicate that the Lions are open to exploring trade options to mitigate Hutchinson’s absence.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter mentioned Za’Darius Smith, a former All-Pro and current defensive end for the Cleveland Browns, as a potential target. Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler with 63 career sacks—including three this season—has one year left on his contract. Although the Browns would prefer to keep him, he has a base salary of $1.21 million this season, rising to $1.5 million next season, plus $9 million in bonuses.
While the Lions are looking to replace Hutchinson’s impact, there’s a possibility he could return if Detroit makes a deep playoff run. Sources suggest Hutchinson might have a realistic chance to play in the Super Bowl, should the team advance that far. Schefter noted that, while Hutchinson’s injury is serious, it could have been worse, as he didn’t suffer any ligament, nerve, or artery damage—only broken bones that required a rod to be inserted in his leg.
Before his injury, Hutchinson was having a standout season, tallying 12 tackles and leading the league with 7.5 sacks along with a forced fumble over the first five games.
As the Lions prepare for an NFC North clash against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings this afternoon, they’ll need to adjust their defense in Hutchinson’s absence.
