Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson carted off with broken tibia
ARLINGTON, Texas — Detroit Lions star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson suffered a fractured tibia during Sunday's 47-9 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, creating a scary moment at AT&T Stadium.
The injury occurred when Hutchinson was sacking Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. As Hutchinson brought Prescott to the ground, his left leg collided with the leg of teammate Alim McNeill, causing it to snap just above the ankle.
Both Lions and Cowboys players quickly gathered around Hutchinson as team medical staff rushed onto the field. Hutchinson's leg was placed in an air cast before he was carted off the field.
Following the game, the Lions announced that Hutchinson had undergone immediate surgery at a hospital in the Dallas area.
"It's tough, really tough," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. "He's in good hands now, but it's hard losing someone like him. He'll be out for a while, but we'll know more after this."
McNeill, who was part of the play, described the injury as "frightening" and admitted he didn't immediately realize its severity.
"I felt something, but I wasn't sure if it was him. Then I saw Hutch down, and it hit me," McNeill said.
Running back David Montgomery, who scored two touchdowns in the game, expressed confidence in Campbell’s ability to prepare players to step up, but acknowledged the emotional impact of the loss.
"It's a huge blow for us," Montgomery said. "Aidan was the heartbeat of this team. He still is, and we’re going to take it personal and play for him."
Hutchinson, the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, had a standout season with 7.5 sacks, the most by a Lions player through five games since 1983. Despite Detroit’s Week 6 bye, he led the NFL in sacks, pressures, and pass rush win rate.
With Hutchinson sidelined, Detroit will lean on defensive linemen Josh Paschal, Levi Onwuzurike, DJ Reader, and Isaac Ukwu. The injury may also provide an opportunity for James Houston, who was inactive against the Cowboys.
"It's tough to replace a guy like Hutch," Onwuzurike said. "He’s a freak. He was on pace to break records this season, so it’s a big loss. But we’ve got hungry guys ready to step up."
Despite the setback, McNeill doesn't expect drastic changes to the defensive scheme.
"We’ll keep playing hard off the edge and setting the run," McNeill said. "Maybe some tweaks on third downs, but overall, it’s just going to be a rotation shift."
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