Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell paid an emotional tribute to star player Aidan Hutchinson after he suffered a horrific leg injury on Sunday.
Defensive end Hutchinson was carted off during the third quarter of Detroit’s game against the Dallas Cowboys with a serious injury to his left shin.
Hutchinson remains in the Dallas area for surgery, Lions coach Campbell said afterward Sunday 47-9 win over the Cowboys.
Hutchinson’s leg appeared to break above the ankle when it collided with teammate Alim McNeill’s left leg as Hutchinson pulled Dak Prescott down in the third quarter.
The Lions led 34-6 at the time of the injury to Hutchinson, who entered the game as the NFL leader in sacks with 6.5.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell paid an emotional tribute to Aidan Hutchinson
Hutchinson was carted off against the Dallas Cowboys with a serious injury to his left shin
Campbell said of his player after the match: “That’s tough. You know, it was tough. And he is now in good hands, he is being cared for.
“He’s staying here (in Dallas). You know, obviously he’s going to be down for a while. So that’s tough, man.
“It’s hard when you lose someone like him. But after this we will know much more and of course we wish him the best.
“It’s hard for everyone when you’re standing there and that’s yours and something like that happens.
‘If you think about it too much and start to play a little shy, you get hurt. So the guys came right back in and lived in the moment that we’re in.”
There was a delay of about 10 minutes as medical personnel attended to Hutchinson while players from both teams made a large circle around the second overall pick in the 2022 draft.
After Hutchinson was loaded onto a cart with a cast on his leg, Dallas teammates and players reached out to pet the 24-year-old.
Hutchinson’s leg appeared to break when it collided with teammate Alim McNeill’s left leg
Players from both teams made a big circle around the second overall pick in the 2022 draft
Hutchinson had the third Detroit sack of the game. McNeill had the first two.
“I didn’t see it myself, so I couldn’t really say,” McNeill said.
‘I didn’t know if it was him or not, but I felt someone hit me with a leg, and then I saw Hutch lying there. That’s wild to see. I hate that for him.”
Prescott, who landed on Hutchinson’s left leg after the injury occurred, suffered a similar injury to his right leg on the same field in Week 5 of 2020, ending his season.
Dallas’ star quarterback was among the players trying to cheer Hutchinson on as he was taken off the field.
“It’s just something I felt at the time,” Prescott said.
“I’ll probably get his number from one of the Michigan guys in the locker room and then reach out again.
‘When you’re in there, it’s blurry. So I don’t even know if he heard them. It doesn’t matter if he heard them. I understand where he was.”
