Aidan Hutchinson already looking like his old self: Lions training camp news and notes

New York Times

5 days ago

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — On Friday, the Detroit Lions were in full pads for the first time this training camp. Also known as Dan Campbell's favorite day of the summer.
'This is where you find out who's who,' Campbell said Friday morning.
This is when the real evaluation begins. It's when players distance themselves and the physicality Campbell has had to temper can be unleashed.
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So, then, who's who? Let's discuss.
The last time we saw Aidan Hutchinson in an NFL game, he was the frontrunner for defensive player of the year. He was the league leader in sacks, pressures, pass-rush win rate — pretty much any metric designed to tell you how good an edge rusher is. His team was up big against the Dallas Cowboys. It was a statement game for a team that had everything it needed to win a Super Bowl.
Hutchinson was turning into a star before our very eyes. Then, in the blink of one, it all ended with a major leg injury.
It has Hutchinson thinking about Sept. 7 already.
'In these hard days, you look forward to September and opening up with Green Bay,' Hutchinson said, speaking for the first time this training camp. 'So that's kind of the thought pattern. Everything is to be ready for that game.'
There is little doubt that Hutchinson will be ready for that game. He thought he'd be ready for the Super Bowl if the Lions made it. He was ready in OTAs, taking the field for the first time since his injury without restriction. And he's certainly ready for training camp, especially now that the mental hurdle has been cleared.
'I would say the first day of OTAs, I went out there, I got kicked, stepped on, you can think of everything under the sun, on this leg,' Hutchinson said Friday, 'And after practice, I got up and I was like, 'All right. We're good.' I think it takes those physical things to happen to you to mentally solidify where you're at and the confidence and moving faster.'
That's paved the way for this portion of the schedule. All eyes have been on Hutchinson. Recapturing the level of play he attained last season is one of the most fascinating storylines heading into 2025, and we won't truly know until the games begin.
But the expectations are there. The Lions need him.
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'It's amazing to have Aidan back, man,' Lions defensive tackle DJ Reader said. 'He's one of the best in the game, so it's good to have him back and just keep building confidence for him.'
'He's trying to put himself in a position to have an All-Pro year,' Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said of Hutchinson.
Hutchinson is already looking like Hutchinson. During one-on-one drills between the offensive line and defensive line, Hutchinson unleashed a nasty spin move — a staple of his repertoire — on Dan Skipper. Perfectly in stride, no wasted movement, right to the QB. Gotta feel for Skip. It was the quickest rush win I've ever seen in this drill.
In a team period late in practice, the No. 1 offense was facing the No. 1 defense. Hutchinson won his rep against tackle Penei Sewell and would've put Jared Goff in the dirt if he were allowed to. He's making it look easier than he should for a player still shaking off the rust — if there was any. No coincidence his best practice of training camp just so happened to be the first time he's worn full pads in nine months.
Hutchinson doesn't look or sound like a player with anything to prove, like he did in his first couple of seasons. He doesn't sound like a player still regaining confidence after a devastating injury. When Hutchinson obtains a certain level of play, that's the new bar to clear. He sounds like a player who believes he's found his standard.
'I'm at a point now in my career where it's like, you're shooting for the stars every year,' Hutchinson said. 'And if that's not the expectation or standard you put to yourself, it's got to be that way. I think from here on out, those first couple of years, you're getting in the league and figuring it out. But now, it's every year. The standard is what it is.'
Earlier this week, Dan Campbell revealed a conversation he had with his young linebacker — Jack Campbell. Though there's no relation, these two share the same football DNA. Campbell was selected 18th two years ago to one day anchor this defense.
That time is now.
'This is his defense,' the coach said. 'He's taken ownership and sets the tone for everybody.'
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This wasn't always the case, but Campbell's tremendous growth from Year 1 to Year 2 paved the way for this moment — and anyone paying attention could've seen it coming. The tools that made Campbell a first-round pick never went away despite a rocky rookie season in 2023. Back then, Campbell was playing out of position and going through typical first-year struggles. The speed of the game and the mental requirements of playing multiple positions as a rookie showed up in his film. But toward the end of the season, Campbell was playing better football, looking more and more like the player he has become after a move to middle linebacker.
That's what he was drafted to be. The Lions didn't toy with him in his second year. It led to a breakout season — leading the team in tackles, playing every game in the heart of an injured unit and making the calls for the defense. He has the look of one of the NFL's best young linebackers. He's positioned himself for this opportunity.
'When I came back, we talked individually and he just let me know that,' Jack Campbell said, when asked his reaction to Dan Campbell's words. 'And it definitely means a lot. I take pride in that, but it's not going to change who I am. … I'm not going to change who I am, but it's an honor. But it also takes 10 other guys on the field with me to be able to produce what we want to do. It takes all of the other guys who aren't on the field, it takes all the assistant coaches, it takes all the coaches to make one big group, one heartbeat, and that's what we're working towards right now.'
Campbell is the man in the middle during training camp. He's leading every huddle and directing traffic on the field. Veteran Alex Anzalone isn't practicing right now, so Campbell has taken it upon himself to be that guy for this defense. He's off to a strong start, based on the first few practices. A few days ago, he made a diving play on a pass to tight end Sam LaPorta during a team period. He scooped up a fumble forced by cornerback Terrion Arnold and ran it back for a would-be touchdown. He's seeing run plays at a lightning-quick pace, and even when the tackle isn't there to be made, he's redirecting ball carriers by being one of the first to break through.
Campbell said his focus is on eliminating mental errors. It also feels like he has more playmaking upside in his game, and if he can take another step in man coverage, he'll be recognized as one of the game's best.
If this is his floor, Campbell is going to be a very good player in this league for years to come. But he has a chance to be discussed among the best in the game with another leap.
He has a different approach, however.
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'I'm just out there playing football,' Campbell said. 'I'm trying to be the best Jack Campbell I can be every single day, nobody else. Whatever I got to do to make this defense the best it can be, I'm going to do it.'
• Arnold (leg) and Derrick Barnes (finger) returned to practice Friday after exiting Thursday. No issues there.
• Defensive tackle Tyleik Williams didn't practice Friday. It looked like wide receiver Tim Patrick was limited.
• I caught up with defensive tackle Roy Lopez (foot) and cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (bruised chest) briefly after practice. They're still out, but both said they expect to be back soon.
• A couple of highlights from the one-on-one tackling drills: Arnold and wide receiver Jameson Williams were the first pairing. Williams got the best of Arnold with a spin move. Arnold came right back on the next matchup and stonewalled Williams upon first contact. These two are fun to watch.
• Campbell and running back David Montgomery were also paired up on a rep. This drill hasn't always been too kind to Campbell — mostly because they almost always pair him against Montgomery. On the first rep, Montgomery won easily. On the second, though, Campbell laid down a huge hit that fired up the defense. It was the last rep of the drill. Great win, great way to end.
• Here's Jack Campbell on Montgomery: 'David, in my opinion, is one of the hardest backs to tackle just because he can put his foot in the ground and his one-cut and his burst is insane, and he can also run you over. … He got me earlier and then I kind of went back to the line, thought about how it happened and then the next play I just let it rip and it all worked out.'
• Wide receiver Dominic Lovett tried to hurdle cornerback Amik Robertson during the open-field tackling drill. It went about as well for him as you'd expect. Robertson put him in the dirt.
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• Wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa was ready for the moment. He was physical in the tackling drill and used to his size to 'Moss' cornerback Avonte Maddox during a team period.
• LaPorta's blocking looks like it has improved tremendously. The Lions had offensive players blocking blitzing defenders in a one-on-one drill and LaPorta won each of the two reps I saw without trouble. It was impressive stuff.
• Guard Christian Mahogany just looks like a seasoned veteran. He made quick work of defensive tackle Chris Smith in the OL-DL drill. Didn't look like he broke a sweat.
• The Lions spent a good portion of their team periods running the ball. Graham Glasgow handled center reps, with Tate Ratledge at right guard. The results were mixed.
• Defensive lineman Keith Cooper, an undrafted free agent, got some first-team reps in the team period. Coaches are giving him opportunities.