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Aidan Hutchinson discusses ‘welcome-to-the-NFL moment’ during Lions’ training camp
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Aidan Hutchinson was a star player for the Michigan Wolverines, and the Dearborn, Mich. native hopes that he can have the same impact with his hometown Detroit Lions.
Detroit took Hutchinson with the 2nd overall pick in the NFL Draft, with the 22-year-old eventually inking a rookie deal worth $35.7 million over 4 years that includes a team option for 2026. The defensive end is currently in the midst of his first-ever NFL training camp and has had a few (to be expected) growing pains in the early stages.
One of those growing pains, which Lions head coach Dan Campbell called Hutchinson’s “welcome-to-the-NFL moment”, occurred on Monday, the team’s 1st day of camp in full pads, when he found himself on the other end of a big hit from veteran tight end T.J. Hockenson. According to The Detroit News’ Nolan Bianchi, Hutchinson also had a tough time of it against 2nd-year offensive lineman Penei Sewell in one-on-one drills.
However, Hutchinson had a better day during Tuesday’s session, notching 2 sacks.
“You’re going to lose reps, especially at this level. You’re not going to win them all, and I’m aware of that,” he said. “If you do lose a rep, you move on and you get after it the next rep. That’s what I did today; that’s what I did yesterday, and that’s what I do every day.”
Campbell noted Monday’s struggles for Hutchinson as a learning experience for the 1st-year defender.
“He’s not the first one that’s happened to — a young guy that comes in,” He said. “And so, he’ll memory bank that and I’ll tell you — it may happen one more time and I bet that’s about it, because he picks things up pretty quick.”
The Lions open preseason play against the Atlanta Falcons on Aug. 12.