If anyone can return from a fractured leg without losing his stride, "there is not a more resilient, mentally tough guy to have that type of injury during that type of season" than Aidan Hutchinson. Those are the words of Lions' new defensive coordinator, Kelvin Sheppard.
Seven months after snapping his tibia and fibula and being transported to a hospital in Dallas -- and into a grueling rehab process -- Hutchinson is back in action for the Lions. And looking more and more like himself during offseason workouts in Allen Park.
"I mean, he’s out there, he’s the most energetic guy on the field," Sheppard said Thursday. "He’s ready to make the call out the huddle today. I went over there during individual (drills) and I said, ‘Hutch, you know how I know you’re back?' He said, ‘How?’ I said, 'Because you’re touching that ground when you run that hoop.'
"And that’s this little thing that he does, like he’s some supernatural cat — which he is. But I’m like, ‘That’s how I know you’re back, big dog.’ And he said, ‘I got you, DC.'"
Sheppard smiled proudly, having climbed the ladder with Hutchinson in Detroit. One has worked his way up from an assistant linebackers coach in 2021 to a defensive coordinator at the age of 37. The other has risen from a second overall pick full of potential in 2022 to one of the best players in the NFL.
"The relationship me and Hutch have is unbelievable," said Sheppard. "The relationship he has with his peers, his teammates. You would not know he’s the caliber player that he is by the way he carries himself. The way he works, his attention to detail in meetings, the way he helps people, the way he wants to be pushed and coached hard.
"Like, you start to get to a certain level and people think those guys at the top echelon of the league are tapped out potentially. But most of those guys that are really special never have that thought in their mind. They want to be coached hard, they want to be pushed. The better the player, the harder you have to push and coach those guys. He’s a guy that’s all-in, and I’m elated to have him out there on the grass."
The Lions look at Hutchinson's return as their biggest addition this offseason. That isn't a spin on what they did or didn't do in bolstering their roster. It's a reflection of Hutchinson's impact when healthy. If he indeed recovers his form from last season, the Lions are plugging a game-wrecker back into their defense. Hutchinson was the runaway leader for Defensive Player of the Year before his injury in Week 6.
The next step for Hutchinson is simple, said Sheppard: "You have to put the pads on and play real football." Until then, Sheppard said he'll be "hesitant to speak out on any projections and things like that" for No. 97.
"But I have full faith in the player because I know who he is outside of ability. I know who he is, and I know if anybody wants things for Hutch, it’s him. He’s going to make sure he’s back at the bar that he’s set for himself."