GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — There are few players on the planet who could step in and be a one-for-one replacement for Aidan Hutchinson. The Lions know it will be a team effort to replace his impact on the pass rush. But one player has stood out following Hutchinson’s injury, and it’s a fellow Michigander.
Trevor Nowaske is becoming a name to know for Lions fans. He sacked Sam Darnold to clinch Detroit’s 31-29 Week 7 victory over Minnesota, and then he made his first career interception early in Sunday’s 52-14 blowout win over Tennessee.
So, who is Trevor Nowaske? It turns out he and Hutchinson have a lot in common. Like Hutchinson, Nowaske is a Michigan native. Nowaske grew up in Canton, about 15 miles west of Dearborn, where Hutchinson played his high school ball.
Hutchinson stayed in state and starred with the Michigan Wolverines, leading them to their first Big Ten title in 17 years. Nowaske didn’t travel far, either. He played 44 games for Saginaw Valley State.
The Lions selected Hutchinson with the second pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The next year, Nowaske signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent. Nowaske didn’t make the team out of training camp last year but was activated from the practice squad on Nov. 2 and played in two games before being waived.
He was claimed by the Cardinals the following day and spent the next offseason in Arizona before once again being cut coming out of camp. This time, it was the Lions who came calling back, bringing Nowaske back into the fold.
Now, he’s playing some crucial snaps, racking up six tackles, two sacks and an interception.
He was inactive for the Lions’ first two games but was active starting Week 3, playing on special teams. In addition to special teams, Nowaske got eight snaps on defense in the Lions’ 42-29 shootout win with Seattle, filling in for injured linebacker Derrick Barnes.
He got 29 defensive snaps the next week against Dallas. On Sunday, he had his highest snap count total to date, playing 39 snaps on defense and 24 on special teams.
Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has spoken about adjusting his strategy without Hutchinson in the lineup, relying on blitzes and generating pass rush from other positions. Barnes would have been a natural fit, but with him out, the opportunity has fallen to Nowaske.
“Mentally, he can handle everything. I mean, multiple spots, the whole nine,” Lions Linebackers Coach Kelvin Sheppard told reporters last week. “He has been this way since his rookie training camp. It’s a big reason why not only myself but me, (Glenn), (head coach Dan Campbell), the front office, all were very eager to get him back. The second we could, we went out and did that.”
Nowaske and the Lions (6-1) will look to extend their five-game winning streak when they travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers (6-2) on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. The game will be televised on Fox.