After a gruesome injury during the third quarter of the Lionsโ clowning of the Dallas Cowboys Sunday afternoon, star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson underwent successful surgery to repair a broken tibia and fibula and will return to Detroit later this week according to the team.
The full statement from the Lions posted on social media read, โAidan Hutchinson underwent successful surgery to repair a fractured tibia and fibula at Baylor White Medical Center in Irving, Texas last night. Hutchinson will return to Detroit this week and is expected to make a full recovery. There is no timeline for his return to play at this time.โ
Despite the unknown timetable, a source, however, told ESPNโs Adam Schefter that Hutchinsonโs season is over given the extent of his injury typically carries a 6- to 8-month injury recovery timeline. It was also noted that a rod was placed in Hutchinsonโs leg during the surgery, the source said.
The injury itself happened when Hutchinson was completing his league-leading 7.5th sack, taking down Dak Prescott as the Lions dominated the Cowboys on both sides of the ball. However, as Hutchinson was falling to the ground his leg seemingly snapped above the ankle when it slammed against teammate Alim McNeill.
McNeill said the injury was โfrightening to seeโ adding that he was unaware of the severity of the injury until after the play.
โThatโs what I felt, but I havenโt seen it myself so I couldnโt really tell,โ McNeill said after the game. โI didnโt know if that was him or not, but I did feel somebody like leg with me and then I saw Hutch down โฆ thatโs crazy. โ
Lions head coach Dan Campbell also commented saying โHate it for Hutch. Thatโs tough. It was tough. Heโs in good hands right now. Heโs being taken care of. Heโll stay back here and obviously heโs going to be down for a little while. So, thatโs tough and itโs hard when you lose somebody like him, but weโll know a lot more after this and obviously wish him the best.โ
