Aidan Hutchinson injury unexpectedly leaves Lions with question mark at another position

The Detroit Lions lost their most important defensive player last week after Aidan Hutchinson went down with a season-ending injury against the Dallas Cowboys.

Of course, that is a massive blow to the team's pass-rush and defense overall, as the Michigan product was far and away the Lions' best edge rusher, and he's one of the best edge rushers in the entire league.

But Hutchinson's injury leaves the Lions with a question mark at more than just one spot. According to Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp, the former No. 2 overall pick was actually the team's emergency long snapper , also.

Scoff at that all you want, but we've already seen a team lose its long snapper during a game recently, forcing it to use its emergency option.

That team was the Chicago Bears , and it happened in Week 6 after former Lions long snapper Scott Daly got hurt midgame. Chicago had to use tight end Cole Kmet in his place, and things went off without a hitch.

In fact, Kmet hilariously won NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the job he did. He also had a monster game as a pass-catcher, reeling in five receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-16 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Back to the Lions: Fipp did note that the team has other options for the backup role, including linebacker Alex Anzalone. Let's just hope it never comes to that and long snapper Hogan Hatten stays healthy.

The Lions obviously have bigger fish to fry than long snapper, as general manager Brad Holmes must add an edge rusher or two before the trade deadline.

We haven't heard much on that front in the news, aside from the Lions reportedly checking in on Haason Reddick , who remains in a contract standoff with the New York Jets, who gave the disgruntled edge rusher permission to seek a trade.

Reddick is the best option of the known ones on the trade market to even approach what Hutchinson can do on the football field. However, the conditions of the trade the Jets made with the Philadelphia Eagles could prevent New York from trading him to an NFC team.