Lions' Aidan Hutchinson cleared to return to football activities - ESPN

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Detroit Lions star Aidan Hutchinson says he's fully cleared to return for football activities.

The Pro Bowl edge rusher, speaking to reporters for the first time since last year's season-ending leg injury, couldn't hide his excitement about reentering the mix.

Hutchinson said he didn't have any setbacks during the lengthy rehab process, adding he always knew he would get back to normal form after suffering a gruesome fractured tibia and fibula injury in Week 6 at Dallas.

«I'm rolling with the boys now and it feels like I'm back to being myself again,» Hutchinson said Thursday. «I'm really looking forward to the season. I think this is the most excited I've been for OTAs in my life. This is the biggest hiatus I've had without playing ball, so I'm pumped.»

After a strong start to the 2024 season, Hutchinson was carted off the field at AT&T Stadium against the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 13. During his time away, Hutchinson pushed through psychological, physical and spiritual hurdles while fighting back.

«In those moments, you try to look at all the silver linings that you can in order to make it make sense a little bit and still, at the end of the day, you're still questioning, 'why?'» Hutchinson said. «That's why you dive into faith, and that's kind of what I did, and it was a very challenging time for a few months.

»You want to be a part of the winning that was going on, and as much as I was part of the team, when you're not really there, you don't really feel like you're a part of it. When I kind of was able to get back on my feet again, that's why I was trying to be as involved as I could."

Hutchinson was an early frontrunner to win the Defensive Player of the Year award last season. Despite missing