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Lions' Aidan Hutchinson Undergoes Successful Surgery for Gruesome Injury vs. Cowboys

Adam Wells

DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 30:  Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) looks on from the sideline during the third quarter of an NFL Monday Night Football regular season football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Detroit Lions on September 30, 2024 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Detroit Lions announced star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson underwent successful surgery on Monday for the gruesome leg injury suffered in the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday and there is no timeline for his return.

Detroit Lions @Lions

<a href="https://t.co/xjAPjyD05b">pic.twitter.com/xjAPjyD05b</a>

Head coach Dan Campbell said after the game that Hutchinson suffered a fractured tibia after being carted off in the third quarter and the defensive end would be "down for a while."

Detroit Lions @Lions

Coach Campbell on Aidan Hutchinson <a href="https://t.co/dlMIq3nQB0">pic.twitter.com/dlMIq3nQB0</a>

The Fox television broadcast showed Hutchinson down on the field after his left leg appeared to get whipped into a teammate while he was trying to make a tackle.

FOX Sports: NFL @NFLonFOX

Aidan Hutchinson is down after the previous play. <a href="https://t.co/1l1kTN7Blb">pic.twitter.com/1l1kTN7Blb</a>

FOX Sports: NFL @NFLonFOX

Aidan Hutchinson is being carted off of the field.<br><br>Prayers up 🙏 <a href="https://t.co/LyBIcqjJPV">pic.twitter.com/LyBIcqjJPV</a>

Joseph Hoyt @JoeJHoyt

The whole Detroit Lions team is on the field as Aidan Hutchinson is prepared to be loaded on the cart. <br><br>Not good. <a href="https://t.co/reAitv55cx">pic.twitter.com/reAitv55cx</a>

The Lions quickly ruled Hutchinson out for the remainder of the game.

Hutchinson had three total tackles, one sack and one tackle for loss in the game prior to suffering the injury. The Lions were beating the Cowboys 34-6 at the time he had to be carted off in the third quarter.

The Lions entered Sunday ranked 10th in points allowed per game. One of the big reasons for that defensive success thus far has been Hutchinson's ascent to a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber star.

Hutchinson came into Week 6 leading the NFL with 6.5 sacks and tied for third with six tackles for loss. He also had 42 pressures, accounted for half of the entire Lions' sack total and had the highest pass-rush win rate among all edge players (34 percent), per ESPN.com.

The 33rd Team @The33rdTeamFB

No one has been doing it like Aidan Hutchinson 🦁<br><br>Sacks: 7.5 (1st)<br>QB Hits: 15 (1st)<br>Pressures: 42 (1st)<br>% of Team's Sacks: 50% (T-1st) <a href="https://t.co/w50csUJxVi">https://t.co/w50csUJxVi</a> <a href="https://t.co/vnajL05L2C">pic.twitter.com/vnajL05L2C</a>

The gap between Hutchinson's performance and every other lineman on the Lions so far this season is significant. Levi Onwuzurike was the only other player on the team with more than one sack (1.5) entering Week 6.

Hutchinson had nearly as many quarterback hits (14) on his own as every other Detroit player combined (16).

After a dominant win over the Cowboys, the Lions moved to 4-1 on the season going into a huge matchup next week against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.