Aidan Hutchinson injury has made Michigan State sick, for many reasons.
It was a horrific injury, a broken tibia and fibula that will go down as one of the worst sports injuries of all time. It happened to one of the Lions’ most popular members, a Michigan-born and raised star who was so good at the University of Michigan that she was a Heisman Trophy finalist. And all Lions fans understood what the injury meant. Detroit’s Super Bowl dreams took a big hit.
Hutchinson was one of the few favorites for NFL Defensive Player of the Year and, more than that, he was by far the most important member of an improved Lions defense. The Lions don’t have any passers near Hutchinson’s level, and trading one before the deadline will be difficult.
Detroit has an offense that can outscore a lot of opponents, and that’s how they’ll have to win. This can be an effective formula, especially if the defense is making a lot of turnovers. But the Lions’ path has become much more difficult without one of the NFL’s most valuable defenders. If Detroit doesn’t make its first Super Bowl, they can revisit this unfortunate game in a Cowboys blowout being a major reason.
Here are the power rankings for Week 7 of the NFL season:
