Dan Campbell revealed the Detroit Lions are “looking at everything” as the franchise ponders a move to replace the injured Aidan Hutchinson.
On Sunday, the Lions secured a crushing 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. It was a dominant showing on both sides of the ball , with the NFC powerhouse emphatically showcasing their Super Bowl credentials as the Jared Goff -led offense scored five touchdowns.
However, Detroit was dealt a cruel blow during their Week 6 victory as star defensive end Hutchinson went down. Early in the third quarter, while he sacked Dak Prescott , Hutchinson suffered a horrific broken tibia and fibula in his left leg .
While the Lions are optimistic and hopeful, Hutchinson’s season is likely over with Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans less than four months away. The 24-year-old had tallied 7.5 sacks in five games, establishing himself as a leading Defensive Player of the Year contender.
Hutchinson’s immense presence on the defensive line is difficult to replace , and the Lions have already suffered major injuries at the edge position. Marcus Davenport (triceps) and Derrick Barnes (knee) are out for the season, while John Cominsky (knee) won’t be available until later in the year.
The Lions have Josh Paschal, Isaac Ukwu, James Houston, Levi Onwuzurike, Trevor Nowaske, and Mitchell Agude as in-house replacements. But given Hutchinson’s superstar ability, the Lions could move for a blockbuster trade instead with names like Maxx Crosby and Haason Reddick linked.
However, Lions head coach Dan Campbell claimed the NFC North franchise is not rushing to make a decision over their next move to replace Hutchinson. He believes there are several factors at play when weighing up a trade for a high-profile replacement.
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“Look, we're open to anything,” Campbell told reporters on Wednesday. “(General manager) Brad (Holmes) has been working through it. We are not going to be in a hurry. Brad is doing his homework. The crew is doing their homework. They're looking at everything.
“But we're not going to just make a move to make it. It's got to be right. It's got to be the right guy, and the pieces have to fall in place.”
He added: “Look, Brad knows the ins and outs of what it would take to acquire somebody. I don't know all of those, but I know enough to know that if it's somebody that is highly productive, 6-foot-6, 285 pounds, runs a 4.4 and 35-inch arms. Those guys don't just fall off trees.
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“You're going to have to… you know, do you want to trade Hutch for that guy? Some of it is, certainly, trade value. It's also contract. Does that have a bearing on our future and who we're trying to get signed moving forward?”
The 4-1 Lions take on the 5-0 Minnesota Vikings in a blockbuster NFC North showdown on Sunday, Oct. 20.
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