Latest news with #AidanHutchinson


USA Today
10 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
When is the NFL Hall of Fame game in 2025? Date, time
Just a two-hour drive away from Ohio State's campus, two teams with significant University of Michigan connections will clash in the NFL's annual Hall of Fame game. The Detroit Lions and star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson will face off against the Los Angeles Chargers, led by head coach Jim Harbaugh, in the first head-to-head NFL competition since Super Bowl 59. Neither team has played in the annual exhibition game – which kicks off preseason competition every year – in the last 30 years. In addition to kicking off this year's preseason slate – with three more weeks of exhibition action to follow ahead of the regular season – the game also represents the start of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Enshrinement Week. Here's what you need to know: HALL OF FAME GAME: How to buy Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Chargers preseason tickets When is the Hall of Fame game? The Pro Football Hall of Fame's "Enshrinement Week" festivities kick off with the Hall of Fame game on the final day of July. Fans can watch the game via local NBC affiliates or stream it with a Peacock subscription. RICHARD SEYMOUR: Hall of Famer part of growing list of Black NFL limited partners Who is playing in the Hall of Fame game? Two teams with University of Michigan football connections (Detroit star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, Los Angeles head coach Jim Harbaugh) are headed to Canton, Ohio for this year's Hall of Fame game. According to the Hall of Fame's website, neither team has played in the annual Hall of Fame exhibition game since 1994. Two days after the game, former Chargers tight end Antonio Gates will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2025. Eric Allen, Jared Allen and Sterling Sharpe are joining him as part of this year's class. BARRY SANDERS: Former Lions RB features in documentary about heart attack experience When does the NFL regular season start? The NFL regular season begins when the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles kick off in Philadelphia on Thursday, Sept. 4. Week 1 continues with the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers clashing in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Friday, Sept. 5. The remainder of the opening week's slate continues Sunday and concludes Monday.


USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Lions health watchlist for fans attending training camp
Training camp opens for the fans on July 26. For those of you attending camp, keep an eye on how these players are looking. Most of them have had an injury or a surgery with little to no game action since. Most of these players are unlikely to see a snap of preseason game action, so what you see in camp is all we get until Week 1 at Lambeau. Aidan Hutchinson (left tib/fib) - Is he working on adjusting his technique at the point of contact with the QB? A swinging, whipping leg has twice in the past two years led to a significant injury. The first time was a factor in an Alim McNeill MCL sprain. These incidents certainly could be flukes, but it would be interesting to see if he is trying to do something different with the outside leg to avoid a recurrence. David Montgomery (right MCL) - How is his burst off his right leg? After missing five weeks, he returned for seven carries in the playoff game but didn't quite look like himself yet. A major question for the offense heading in the season will be whether he can return to his pre-injury form. Alim McNeill (right ACL) - Is he doing any cutting drills? McNeill tore his ACL on December 15, so he could be doing light cutting drills anytime now. He is on PUP which means he can work out on the side, but not technically join practice. Malcolm Rodriguez (right ACL) - What is the intensity of his cutting drills? On Instagram this week, Rodriguez posted himself doing light cutting drills. A hard cut on his right leg was how he tore his ACL. We should see the intensity of these cutting drills gradually ramp up over the next few weeks. Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee) - Any signs of limitation following the knee surgery? He described it as a "clean-up" which is often done for cartilage damage. There is a great deal of variability when it comes to the impact of cartilage injuries. Jack Campbell (hip) - How does he look after hip surgery? Avoiding PUP was a great sign. Does he appear to have any limitations in camp? Brodric Martin (right knee hyperextension) - Are there any residual concerns with that right knee? Martin's knee injury was last preseason. He returned for the second half of the season but only saw 25 snaps all year. Mekhi Wingo (right knee meniscus) - What kind of workouts is he doing? Wingo had a suspected right knee meniscus repair (and possibly more) last November. He is on PUP with a projected September return which means he should be doing some fairly intense workouts soon. Khalil Dorsey (right tib/fib) - Any signs of weakness in the right ankle or leg? His fracture looked like it avoided the ankle joint but was still close to that area. If there is any ankle weakness, that could affect his lateral movements and cuts. Graham Glasgow (knees) - Is he bouncing back after a down season last year? Glasgow only missed one game last year due to a knee, but he was listed with a knee on at least one other occasion.


New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Aidan Hutchinson already looking like his old self: Lions training camp news and notes
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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement '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.' Advertisement 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. Advertisement '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. Advertisement • 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.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aidan Hutchinson taking Lions rookie under his wing
Detroit Lions superstar edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson is taking a rookie under his wing at training camp. After Friday's practice, Lions sixth-round rookie edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein stated that Hutchinson has taught him a lot in camp so far. "He's really been helping me a lot," Hassanein said of Hutchinson. "I'm super grateful for him. Honestly, everybody in the room has been teaching me. I've only been doing this for seven years, so I just want to learn and grow." "At the end of the day, I'm gonna give you 100% and I'm gonna run through somebody's face. This is my mentality," Hassanein added. The Lions selected Hassanein with the No.196 overall pick in April's draft. The 23-year-old tallied 9.5 sacks for Boise State in 2024, and also had a 12.5-sack campaign in 2023. Though Marcus Davenport is back from a triceps injury that cut his 2024 season short and will likely be the other starting edge rusher opposite Hutchinson, Hassanein could also be an impact player on Kelvin Sheppard's defense this year. Detroit lacks high-quality depth in the edge rusher room, so Hassanein has a massive opportunity to establish himself as a top rotational piece in the position group. The two-time first-team All-Mountain West selection could also challenge Davenport for the starting spot, though the Lions will likely opt for the veteran who is also impressing at camp. MORE DETROIT LIONS NEWS Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown showcase elite work ethic at Lions' training camp Detroit Lions urged to sign $110 million castoff thanks to questions on defense Dan Campbell's comments on Alex Anzalone give hope for positive resolution Dan Campbell addresses Detroit Lions training camp fights


Newsweek
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Lions' Dan Campbell Gets Honest About Aidan Hutchinson
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entering the 2025 NFL season, the Detroit Lions are once again expected to be one of the top teams in football. After being the best regular season team last year, the Lions lost their first playoff game against the Washington Commanders. Despite being the best team in the NFL, Detroit was beat up. One of the biggest losses was seeing superstar pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson go down with a broken leg against the Dallas Cowboys. Hutchinson is one of the most feared defensive players in the league. Not having him come playoff time was clearly a huge hit for the Lions. Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions rushes the passer during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on October 13, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions rushes the passer during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on October 13, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. Photo byThat being said, Hutchinson is back on the field and ready to play in 2025. He has worked hard to make his comeback and Detroit is hoping to see him pick up where he left off. Read more: Report: Chicago Bears Have Shown Interest in Intriguing Wide Receiver With training camp getting underway, head coach Dan Campbell spoke out about his superstar defensive end returning to the field. "It's good to see," Campbell said. "It does give you a little boost. It's good to see the confidence back. It's pretty exciting. Good to have him back." Prior to his leg injury during the 2024 NFL season, Hutchinson played in just five games. He racked up 19 total tackles to go along with 7.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Hutchinson was on track for a massive year. Throughout his three-year career thus far, the 24-year-old superstar has totaled 122 tackles, 28.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and 10 defended passes. Having that kind of impact player back on the defensive side of the football will make the Lions a much more dangerous contender. Against an NFC North division that has improved dramatically, Detroit will need a healthy Hutchinson on the field week in and week out. Read more: Patriots Receive Huge Injury News Before Training Camp On the outside looking in, the Lions appear to be one of the most talented teams in football. They will need to prove that on the field. Hutchinson being back at full strength certainly improves their chances of making a Super Bowl run. Expect to see Hutchinson come out looking to prove a point to start the season. Sitting on the sidelines for most of a season is frustrating. He will look to take out that frustration on opponents and show that he's back better than ever in 2025. For more Detroit Lions and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.