Week 6 was more than just a regular season matchup for the Detroit Lions. It was a revenge game from last year's matchup with the Dallas Cowboys that resulted in one of the worst calls fans had ever seen.
Everything was off to a dandy start for the Lions, even after halftime, as Detroit was piling on the points.
But then, in the third quarter, pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson went down with an apparent leg injury. It was obvious that Hutchinson was in immense pain and caused a lengthy delay in the action.
#Lions star DE Aidan Hutchinson is about to be carted off with what appears on replay to be a serious lower left leg injury.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 13, 2024
There was no denying it. Hutchinson had clearly suffered a leg break, as the replay confirmed.
For those with strong stomachs wanting to see the play in which Hutchinson was hurt, see below.
Aidan Hutchinson suffers brutal leg injury in win over Cowboys
Disclaimer: the below video of Aidan Hutchinson's leg injury is graphic.
Aidan Hutchinson is down after the previous play. pic.twitter.com/1l1kTN7Blb
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 13, 2024
Update (7:07pm CT): Campbell says Hutchinson will stay in Dallas and will be out "a while."
"He's in good hands right now. He's being taken care of. He'll stay (in Dallas) and obviously he's going to be down for a little while. So that's tough, man. It's hard when you lose somebody like him. It's hard when you lose somebody like him. But he'll know a lot more after this… https://t.co/U3a0xgDISR
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 14, 2024
Update: Aidan Hutchinson is out for the remainder of the 2024 season
#Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson did, in fact, suffer a season-ending fractured tibia. He'll undergo additional tests to confirm the full severity, but his season is over. pic.twitter.com/bucs1Zntud
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 14, 2024
For one of the better, young pass rushers in the league, this afternoon went from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. Hutchinson isn't just one of the better, young pass rushers in the league, but he had been the league leader in sacks (6.5) up until the point of his injury.
Hutchinson is clearly going to miss extended time, and in his place, the Lions might have to get creative. They don't have anybody nearly as talented as Hutchinson, to take that role, of course. Guys like Levi Onwuzurike, Josh Paschal, Isaac Ukwu and Alim McNeill are going to have far more pressure on their shoulders going forward.
With the NFL trade deadline coming up at the end of this month, Detroit very well could look elsewhere for help replacing Hutchinson.
One situation to monitor could be that of Haason Reddick and the New York Jets. There is no weirder situation in football, right now, than Reddick's. Even Davante Adams' trade saga seems mild by comparison.
Should the Lions be able to get the Jets to budge on a Reddick trade, that would be an enormous addition for a team looking at making a Super Bowl run.
If not Reddick, then the Lions should be attempting to pluck from teams which are headed no where in the immediate future. Teams like the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots come to mind.
For now, it will be about putting a plan in place for the week ahead as a divisional matchup with the undefeated Minnesota Vikings awaits in Week 7.
This story will be continually updated as more information is gathered.