Lions' Aidan Hutchinson feared to have possible season-ending knee injury after sack celebration

Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is feared to have suffered a significant knee injury while celebrating a sack of New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye on Sunday, according to multiple reports. The injury cast a shadow over Detroit's 35-10 international victory in Germany, and head coach Dan Campbell said the team will have a clearer picture once it returns to the United States and Hutchinson undergoes additional testing.

NFL Network reported that Hutchinson had an MRI immediately after the game and will seek a second opinion, but that there does not appear to be hope that he returns this season. The potential loss is a major blow to a Detroit team sitting at 7-2 in a tight NFC North race.

The play happened during the first drive of the Week 10 matchup. Replay showed Hutchinson leaping into the air after bringing Maye down on third down, with his knee appearing to buckle as he hit the field. He fell right away, grabbed his leg and stayed down on the turf for an extended stretch.

Hutchinson eventually walked to the medical tent under his own power before heading to the locker room. He was first listed as questionable to return and was later downgraded to out for the remainder of the game.

Maye was also hurt on the play, suffering an ankle injury, and the Patriots quarterback did not return.

After the win, Campbell said he had nothing new to share on the injury front and praised the rest of his roster for stepping up without one of the cornerstones of the defense. "Any time you lose a player of his caliber, the type of teammate he is, he's a captain of ours, that doesn't make things easy. I thought guys stepped up in his wake and showed up for us today and helped us out .. but knowing Hutch for who he is, he doesn't stay down long," Campbell said. ".. but certainly you don't want to know that a player like that is down."

Hutchinson has been central to Detroit's success since arriving as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 draft. He had started all 64 games he played for the Lions, and entering this week his career line included 48.0 sacks, 199 combined tackles with 49 for a loss, 118 quarterback hits, 14 passes defended and five interceptions.

A lengthy absence would be familiar territory for the 25-year-old, who missed 13 games in 2024 after breaking his left tibia in Week 6 of that season.

The Lions, now 7-2, return home to prepare for a matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next week as they await word on whether their defensive leader can play again this year.