JJ Watt knows what it’s like to have an NFL season end abruptly by a broken leg, so he was understandably emotional about the gruesome injury suffered by Detroit Lions star Aidan Hutchinson on Sunday in Dallas.
‘Aidan Hutchinson no,’ the legendary Houston Texans defensive end and current CBS Sports analyst wrote on X. ‘Damnit man, that is horrific.’
Hutching was carted off the field in Dallas after breaking his left tibia on a sack of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott during Sunday’s 47-9 Lions win at AT&T Stadium.
Watt broke his left tibia in 2017, resulting in the end of his season, although he did come back in 2018 to record an impressive 16 sacks for Houston.
Hutchinson’s injury was so horrific that Fox Sports broadcasters Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt refused to show the replay.
Detroit Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson (97) is checked on by DJ Reader (98) and others
JJ Watt (left) reacted to the gruesome leg injury Aidan Hutchinson (right) suffered Sunday
JJ Watt knows what it’s like to have an NFL season end abruptly by a broken leg
‘It’s a heartbreaking scene here in Arlington. We’re not going to show you the replay because we saw it in the break,’ Burkhardt said. ‘Trust me, you don’t want to see it. Aidan Hutchinson’s leg went a very funny way. Obviously major concern for him down the field. If you can read lips, it sounds like he’s saying he broke it. Just terrible.’
Brady felt similarly terrible for his fellow University of Michigan alum, Hutchinson, who was leading the NFL in sacks (6.5) and pressures (25) entering Week 6.
‘Heartbreaking to watch and see,’ Brady said. ‘Everything seems to be going your way and then you see such a difficult injury to this player who defines what your defense it about. Pretty deflating for everybody. I can only imagine how the team feels.’
As Brady was alluding, and several fans pointed out, the 24-year-old Hutchinson was headed towards a potential record-breaking contract extension in Detroit.
He’s under contract for the 2025 season, when he’ll receive $5.5 million in salary and bonuses, but the club was expected to make a long-term offer for one of the NFL’s rising defensive ends.
‘I feel sick for Aidan Hutchinson,’ Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith wrote on X. ‘Awful injury in what looked like it was going to be a great season for him and the Lions. And this is Year 3 for him which means he was probably going to sign one of the biggest contracts for a defensive player in NFL history next offseason.’
As Brady was alluding, and several fans pointed out, the 24-year-old Hutchinson was headed towards a potential record-breaking contract extension in Detroit
Hutchinson’s leg appeared to snap when it collided with the left leg of teammate Alim McNeill
Players from both teams made a large circle around the second-overall pick in the 2022 draft
Pat McAfee Show video producer Evan Fox put it more succinctly: ‘You just cannot replace Aidan Hutchinson.’
The loss of Hutchinson soured what should have been a joyous occasion after the Lions broke their six-game losing streak in Dallas to improve to 4-1 on the year.
‘Yall probably would’ve been better off losing 47-9 and not losing AH for the year,’ one fan responded to Fox.
Head coach Dan Campbell was understandably emotion afterwards.
However, he was quick to praise his team’s resilience in finishing strongly without their most fearsome teammate.
‘That’s hard for everybody when you’re standing there and that’s one of yours and something like that happens,’ Campbell said. ‘If you dwell on that too much and you start playing a little timid, that’s when you get hurt. So guys snapped right back in and they lived in the moment where we’re on.’
Hutchinson remained in Dallas afterwards for surgery, according to Campbell.
