Detroit Lions fans have gone through enough with defensive injuries. The last thing anyone in Ford Field wanted was to watch their star players struggling to get back to their feet in a tough contest against the Browns.
Unfortunately, on two separate occasions in the second quarter, Lions fans were getting traumatic flashbacks to last year when star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson was lost for the season with a broken fibula and tibia.
The first time, Hutchinson appeared to have tweaked something on his lower body, but he shook it off and jogged to the sideline. The second time was much more worrying, as Hutchinson lay on the turf in obvious pain. Luckily, after a quick chat with the trainers, he again jogged off the field.
Ennis Rakestraw speaks for Detroit Lions fans during Aidan Hutchinson injury scare
In the moment, Lions second-year cornerback Enis Rakestraw, who was lost for the season due to a shoulder injury in training camp, posted on X exactly what everyone in Detroit was thinking watching Hutchinson be assisted by team personnel.
Almost had a heart attack 🤧
— Ennis Rakestraw Jr (@EnnisRakestraw) September 28, 2025
Hutchinson took a check from running back Jerome Ford that dropped him to the turf. It appeared that maybe Hutchinson had the wind knocked
The Lions have already lost Marcus Davenport to the Injured Reserve list, and Al--Quadin Muhammad was a late addition to the injury report, so Detroit’s defense certainly can’t afford more injuries on the edge. Of course, last season the Injured Reserve list was riddled with defensive players, including Hutchinson and Davenport, by year’s end.
Thankfully, Hutchinson is still on the field against the Browns. So far, he’s had a productive game, logging three tackles, two QB hits, and a sack in the first half.
With a 13-point lead heading into the second half, the Lions' pass rush could prove the difference against a banged-up Browns’ offensive line that is missing both of its starting tackles.
On the back end, Kerby Joseph went down on D.J. Reed’s interception return, and he’s not on the field to start the second half, once again pointing to the importance of the pass rush bearing down on the 40-year-old quarterback for Cleveland.
As for Hutchinson, he started the second half with a strip-sack of Flacco that was reversed due to a penalty. Safe to say those two injury scares in the first half aren’t holding him back too much.