Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson expected to miss remainder of season following leg surgery

Hutchinson’s season-ending fate isn’t unexpected, but the confirmation doesn’t make it any less of a blow for Detroit to lose its defense’s high-running motor.

Entering Week 6, Hutchinson led the NFL with 6.5 sacks, and he’d played only four games due to the Lions’ Week 5 bye. Coming off his first Pro Bowl campaign, the 24-year-old, who ends his year with 7.5 sacks and 19 tackles, was well on his way to another sensational season and perhaps carving out a spot as one of the league’s true elite pass rushers.

Now, the 2022 NFL Draft’s No. 2 overall pick will be absent from the Lions’ quest to repeat as NFC North champions.

It’s never easy to fill the void left by the loss of a star player, but Hutchinson’s absence could shine a light on Detroit’s lack of depth rushing the passer.

On the inside, Alim McNeill has been excellent and had two sacks against the Cowboys, but nobody else on the team has more than 1.5 sacks on the season. There will be no replacing Hutchinson, but the likes of Levi Onwuzurike, Josh Pascal and rookie Isaac Ukwu will have larger roles and need to step up for Detroit.