Detroit Lions make official complaint to NFL over Aidan Hutchinson treatment after star pass rusher’s injury history

THE Detroit Lions have issued a complaint to the NFL over the league’s treatment of star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson.

The Pro Bowl defensive end is coming off a 2024 season in which he suffered a severe leg injury.

AP

Detroit Lions pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson suffered two season-ending injuries in a Week 7 game last season[/caption]

AP

Hutchinson has recovered as he entered Monday night’s game with one sack[/caption]

Last October, Hutchinson fractured both his fibula and fibula in Week 7, ending his campaign.

He underwent immediate surgery and had to recover for more than half a year.

Before the injury, Hutchinson led the league in sacks with 7.5 in five games.

And the Lions don’t want Hutchinson to go through another injury situation.

Detroit has reportedly handed film to the NFL concerning an issue with the way teams have been blocking Hutchinson.

The Lions shared video from their first two regular-season games against the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, showing Hutchinson being illegally and intentionally blocked low.

The issue was worth monitoring during Detroit’s Week 3 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Countdown.

“The Detroit Lions have taken notice, and they’ve asked the league office to monitor the plays against Aidan Hutchinson,” Schefter said during ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown.

“Not that that will protect him out there, but clearly people have noticed some of the plays, and the Lions want the league office to notice as well.”

During Schefter’s report, ESPN displayed two plays of low blocks from Packers’ tight end John FitzPatrick on Hutchinson in Week 1.

The insider also indicated that there’s footage of the same instance from the Lions’ win over the Bears in week 2.

Schefter referenced Hutchinson’s serious injuries from last season as he continued to address the ample evidence of opponents going low on Hutchinson.

Analyst Marcus Spears, a former NFL defensive lineman, chimed in on the report and said that while he’s not a fan of the play, he understands that the opposing teams’ methods of playing defenders like Hutchins aren’t illegal.

Low blocks are legal when targeted at a player’s legs or below the thigh, according to the NFL rules.

AP

Hutchinson reacts after sacking Baltimore Ravens superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson during the Lions’ Week 3 MNF victory[/caption]

But it will be illegal when a player is already engaged with an opposing player high and a different player contacts them low.

That would be considered a chop block, and a 15-yard penalty would be given to the offending team.

Hutchinson entered Monday night’s game with two combined tackles and a sack in two contests.

The Lions defeated the Ravens, 38-30, as Detroit sacked Lamar Jackson a stunning seven times.

Hutchinson recorded one of those sacks, as he also totaled two tackles, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble for good measure.