Aidan Hutchinson: Penalty, failed pass rush were ‘stupid stuff that’s easily fixable’
Aidan Hutchinson, the Detroit Lions’ second-year defensive end, is not dwelling on his recent performance as he prepares for the upcoming matchup against the Denver Broncos. Despite being at the center of two critical plays in the Lions’ loss to the Chicago Bears, Hutchinson remains confident in his abilities and does not consider his performance in need of a bounce back.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Hutchinson expressed his perspective on the game, stating, I mean, I didn’t think it was that bad of a game. I think a couple bad things, but I thought I was playing well and just a couple bad things, but I don’t see this as a bounce back. I mean, not necessarily a bounce back, cause I don’t think I played bad.
In the game against the Bears, Hutchinson was responsible for two costly mistakes. Late in the third quarter, he jumped offside on fourth-and-13, providing the Bears with a free play that resulted in a 38-yard touchdown pass. Later on, he called an ill-advised stunt on third-and-goal, enabling the Bears to score the game-clinching touchdown. Despite these errors, Hutchinson attributes them to temporary lapses in judgment rather than a lack of skill or technique.
Lions coach Dan Campbell downplayed Hutchinson’s decision to call his own number on the stunt, stating that pass rushers often make such decisions within the framework of the defensive call. Campbell commended Hutchinson for taking accountability for his actions and emphasized the team’s focus on moving forward.
Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn supported Hutchinson, explaining that the defensive end’s intent was to make a play. Glenn acknowledged Hutchinson’s mistake in calling the stunt play, which allowed the quarterback to escape the pocket, but he also expressed confidence in Hutchinson’s potential to make more positive plays than mistakes in the league.
Despite the errors in the last game, Hutchinson has been a standout player for the Lions this season. With 6.5 sacks and a career-high 18 quarterback hits, he has consistently demonstrated his skills on the field. Hutchinson remains optimistic and believes that the mistakes he made are easily fixable.
The Lions will have an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth with a win against the Broncos this week and assistance from other teams. Hutchinson views this as an opportunity to demonstrate his resilience and prove himself once again.
Hutchinson expressed his perspective on the nature of the game, saying, That’s the beautiful thing about this game is there’s 17 games and there’s constantly, when you do good you got to prove it. When you do some bad things, you get back up and you try to continue to prove it. So that’s the beautiful thing about this sport, and that’s why I’m not discouraged at all. This is no comeback for me, this is just I’m going to get back to what I do.
As Hutchinson remains determined to bounce back from his recent mistakes, the Lions eagerly await their upcoming game against the Broncos while keeping their playoff hopes alive.
