Last season, Aidan Hutchinson was severely jinxed. By Week 6, the Detroit Lions’ edge rusher was on a tear, posting 7.5 sacks through 5 games and leading the league after the Week 5 bye. Then disaster struck. Against the Cowboys, Hutchinson suffered a devastating blow, fracturing both his tibia and fibula. Surgery was immediate, and his season was lost in an instant, stripping the Lions of their Pro Bowl star during the special run. Yet even in that moment of crushing misfortune, the story was not finished. This season, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Lions CB Terrion Arnold opened up on Up and Adams about Aidan Hutchinson’s recovery, and he did not hold back on the compliments. “I ain’t gonna lie, they talk about like comeback player of the year for Aiden. You should be talking about the defensive player of the year. Hutch is literally like a machine.” Arnold even pointed to Hutchinson’s daily habits as proof that the edge rusher is burning with hunger to return stronger than ever. 

“He’s like a, almost like a robot. Where, like, after he does what he does, he goes back into his locker and then he just recharges. And then like, next thing you know, here you go again.” Last month, Hutchinson teased his comeback by posting workout clips stating, “I’d say I’m good.” He is definitely more than good, already setting his eyes on Week 1 in Sept. “In these hard days, you look forward to September and opening up with Green Bay. So, that’s kind of the thought pattern. Everything is to be ready for that game,” addressing the first time since training camp. The gravy boat of praises has been laid on thick ever since his return was announced.

Defensive coordinator Kevin Sheppard joined the chorus when he spoke to ESPN. “Listen, I’m not saying anything about numbers, statistics, or any of that. But I see a better player than we had last year. And you might be like, ‘Whoa.’ Like, that’s the same thing I said when I saw him out there. I’m like, ‘Whoa,'” Sheppard made clear where his confidence lay. His words capture the same feeling that others inside the building shared.

Head coach Dan Campbell has no doubts either. “I would never count Hutch out, ever. So yeah, probably a long road. But I would never count him out and I would say if anybody can make it back it’s him.” The hype is not built on empty talk (or even past stats); it is grounded in evidence gathered in this offseason.

Aidan Hutchinson turns heads at practice sessions

Entering Year 4 with the Lions, Aidan Hutchinson sure has a couple of tricks tucked up his sleeve. And recently, he showed them off against Penei Sewell during one-on-ones. He unleashed a slick half-spin move that left the All-Pro tackle scratching his head and guessing. In team drills, Hutchinson gave the entire offensive line trouble, especially on snaps where he slid inside late. His timing was flawless and forced the line to scramble and struggle to retreat.

It was not only Hutchinson who stole the spotlight. Tyleik Williams had himself a solid day. He held his own in one-on-one matchups, but really stood out during team drills with a sack and a tackle for loss. Up to now, he’s been known for taking on double-teams and stuffing the run, but now you can see him breaking through and creating real disruption in the backfield.

The Lions’ training camp buzz has only grown ever since the pads went on and caution went out of the window. DC Sheppard stirred fans’ attention when he spoke about Hitchinson. He suggested that the fourth-year rusher looks sharper now, coming off a major injury that cut short his Defensive Player of the Year trajectory. There might be some truth to it.

Through the practice sessions, Hutchinson dominated with energy. “It takes those physical things to happen to you to mentally kind of solidify where you are at and the confidence and moving past it,” he said. Under Campbell’s determinative grit, Hutch is projected to have an explosive season. Any lingering doubts about his legs will seem to have vanished as soon as Day 5 of padded practice.