GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Almost everything went right for the Lions in their 47-9 rout of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Almost.
The Lions unfortunately lost star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson to a gruesome leg injury that could cost him the rest of the season. The Fox Sports telecast did not show replays of the injury, but clips posted to social media show Hutchinson’s left leg clearly fracture while coming into contact with teammate Alim McNeill’s leg.
After the game, team officials said Hutchinson was taken to a nearby hospital and underwent immediate surgery to repair a “broken tibia.” They did not give any additional details on the injury or what a potential recovery timetable would look like.
“He’s in good hands right. He’s being taken care of. He will stay back here. Obviously he’s going to be down a little while,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said in his postgame presser. “And that’s tough when you lose somebody like him. But we will know a lot more after this and wish him the best.”
Hutchinson has been arguably the team’s best player on the young season, racking up 19 total tackles, 7.5 sacks and a forced fumble through five games.
Even though the lopsided score carried plenty of talking points, TV commentators focused on Hutchinson’s injury and what it could mean for the Lions’ future.
After returning from a commercial break, Fox’s Kevin Burkhart conveyed the weight of it all, saying “If you just tuned in, the score doesn’t matter. That’s Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions’ best defensive player who is laying on the ground, who has suffered a gruesome leg injury. We’re not showing it. I just hope he’s OK.”
“Aidan Hutchinson, no,” future Hall of Fame defensive end JJ Watt tweeted in the heat of the moment. “That is horrific.”
Following the game, former defensive end Michael Strahan made sure to highlight Hutchinson’s contributions to the team during Fox’s “The OT” postgame show.
“We all send our best to him and hope for a speedy recovery,” Strahan said. “It breaks your heart.”
The Lions (4-1) return to action next Sunday with a stiff road test against NFC North rival Minnesota (5-0). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
