The Detroit Lions are expected to enter this month’s NFL Draft in a position of strength on defense with star players DJ Reader and Aidan Hutchinson expected to return this season.
Hutchinson, a fourth-year pro from Plymouth, Michigan, is expected to command a large salary increase via a contract extension despite missing most of this past season. He suffered a broken tibia and fibula in Week 7 against Dallas (Oct. 13). The injury required surgery and ended his season.
Hutchinson has been working the past five-plus months to get back on the football field at full strength, a journey that has been the subject of much focus among Lions fans on social media.
On Friday, Hutchinson shared a new injury update along with a video that had Detroit fans in their feelings. Most were excited over another possible Defensive Player of the Year caliber season.
“Feelin like myself again,” Hutchinson wrote in a Facebook post on his family’s ‘House of Hutch’ page along with a video of himself ratcheting up the intensity while running at the Lions’ indoor practice facility.
Hutchinson appeared much faster and more athletic than he did in his Feb. 17 video.
Fans reacted with messages of excitement and relief.
“At a wedding right now. Cocktail hour. I’m holding back tears seeing this for the first time. I just … I want him to succeed so (expletive) badly,” one person wrote on X.
“Watching him not only run full speed, able to zig zag. My heart is full.”
“It’s time for a redemption story!” another fan added on X.
“More than just sprinting. He’s doing multi-planar work with that weave instead of just straight plane. That’s exciting to see,” another added.
“Answered prayers! We can’t wait to see you back at it again!!!” another said on Facebook.