Despite entering Wek 14 tied for the best record in the NFL, the Detroit Lions are banged up, and they will need to get healthy over the next few weeks if they are to have a real shot at winning their first Super Bowl championship.
The most important player on their roster who is currently out due to injury is star defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson, who broke his leg in early October.
It has been thought he would be done for the season, but NFL insider Albert Breer reported Hutchinson has started running in a pool and is off crutches, which could lead to his return if the Lions advance far enough in the playoffs.
“The expectation is, if they make it to the Super Bowl, Hutchinson will be in uniform,” Breer said, via NFL on Prime Video.
A return THIS SEASON for Aidan Hutchinson?@AlbertBreer says don’t count it out just yet! pic.twitter.com/bA4s7u2CMM
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) December 6, 2024
Even without Hutchinson, Detroit seems to have a great chance of representing the NFC, and perhaps the only team that has a real chance of preventing them from doing so is the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Lions are engaged in a tight race for first place in the NFC North, and were one game ahead of the Minnesota Vikings and two games ahead of the Green Bay Packers, who they face on “Thursday Night Football.”
Detroit has an eye-popping 13 defensive players currently on injured reserve, but somehow, the unit has held up, which is a sign of a strong identity and great coaching.
They came into Week 14 ranked second in points allowed, and they had given up more than 20 points in just three games so far this season.
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