It took all of three weeks for the Detroit Lions to become fed up with the way the opposition was targeting one of its star defenders. Before Monday night's victory against the Baltimore Ravens, things reached a boiling point as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that head coach Dan Campbell and the Lions have taken the next step toward protecting their investment in defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.
"(Hutchinson is) coming off the fractured tibia and fibula. If you watch his performance in the first two games of the year, what stands out about that is the fact that it feels like opponents have been going low on him, so much so that the Lions have raised the issue with the league office," Schefter said, via 97.1 The Ticket. "If you go back and look at the film from the first game, take a look at how Green Bay is coming at Aidan Hutchinson's legs."
Lions Take Action with NFL After Repeated Cheap Shots on Aidan Hutchinson
With Hutchinson coming off injuries to his tibia and fibula that ended his 2024 season after just five games, it makes all the sense in the world that Detroit's coaching staff would want to do whatever they can to ensure Hutchinson makes it through the 2025 campaign unscathed. This is why the Lions sent video to the league office showing specific instances of opposing players targeting Hutchinson's legs.
Those injuries ended what was looking like a career-best season for the former Michigan Wolverines star, as, at the time of his injury, Hutchinson had already racked up 7.5 quarterback sacks. While Hutchinson hasn't been quite as effective through three games this season, with only two quarterback sacks, the Lions' focus isn't on what he has done to start the year, but rather on what they can do to ensure he finishes it in uniform and available to play.
Even with the opposition reportedly targeting his lower legs, Hutchinson still managed to make what was, arguably, the play of the night when he forced Ravens running back Derrick Henry into a fumble late in the fourth quarter, which the Lions pounced on and used as a means to add to their lead.
There is no doubt that Hutchinson is as important to this Lions defense as anyone else. Whatever Campbell & Co. can do to ensure that the star defensive end is available to play week in and week out is vital to the team's outlook. Having Hutchinson healthy and ready to disrupt the opposing offense is one of the best ways for him to leave his mark.
Hopefully, the Lions' message to the league office helps the former first-round pick remain on the field long enough to achieve that goal.