When the Detroit Lions thrashed the Dallas Cowboys by a score of 47-9, the victory came with a heavy price tag. The Lions’ elite edge rusher, Aidan Hutchinson, was lost for the season with a broken tibia. In the aftermath of Hutchinson’s horrific injury, there’s been plenty of speculation who could replace him as the Lions next man up. Las Vegas Raiders’ Maxx Crosby and New York Jets’ Haason Reddick have been mentioned as possible trade candidates. But the quest to find a replacement for Hutchinson will not be easy. 

Brad Holmes, the Lions’ EVP and General Manager, has done a brilliant job assembling this talented group of individuals through smart trade acquisitions and savvy draft selections. However, replacing Hutchinson will be his biggest challenge yet.

Detroit Lions Quest To Replace Hutchinson -The Next Man Up

Hutchinson currently leads the league this season with 7.5 sacks. From the perspective of an opposing quarterback, Hutchinson’s looming presence on the field is inescapable. He quickly reacts to any opportunity to disrupt offensive play calls. If Hutchinson had not suffered a season-ending injury with a broken tibia, he would have been a shoo-in candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. It won’t be easy for the Lions to replace that combination of athleticism and field awareness.    

However, Hutchinson’s contribution to the Lions and importance to the team extends far beyond his outstanding athletic prowess. Hutchinson has been the heart and soul of this team, inspiring teammates, coaches, and fans. His enthusiasm and passion for the game are contagious. As a team captain, Hutchinson exhibits a tremendous work ethic, sound leadership, and discipline. Finding an individual candidate with all of these qualities is unlikely.

The Next Man Up  

A partial solution to fill the defense coverage gap might be closer than anticipated. At the time of Hutchinson’s injury, the Lions were ahead by a score of 34-6 against the Dallas Cowboys. But following Hutchinson’s devastating injury and absence from the game, the Lions continued to score at will and closed out the victory by a score of 47-9.

As thrilling as it was to watch the Lions continue to pound Dallas with every additional score, the unsung hero of this game was the Lions’ defense. In the immediate aftermath of Hutchinson’s injury, the Cowboys scored on a 50-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey. But after that, the Lions’ defense shut out Dallas for the remainder of the game. Credit this unit for an outstanding effort that thwarted any comeback attempt from the Cowboys.

The defense was exceptional, even without Hutchinson on the field.  The Lions’ next man up mandate was on full display. Safety Brian Branch played a sensational game. Named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week, Branch had two interceptions, a forced fumble, and five solo tackles. He also assisted on a sixth tackle. Branch has a total of three interceptions and 21 tackles this season.     

Branch’s standout performance made the team’s history books but he also had help from his teammates. Kerby Joseph has been terrific all season coming up with critical interceptions when the team needed him most. Joseph snatched his fourth interception of the season against Dallas.  

First-round draft pick Terrion Arnold has taken heat for drawing too many defensive penalties, but Sunday’s game was his best in a Lions uniform. Arnold broke up a crucial pass when the Cowboys were in scoring position and assisted Branch in retrieving a forced fumble.

Lions Defense -Next Man Up

A defining characteristic of this Lions’ team is that if one player is injured or out of the lineup, the next man steps up. During the off-season, one of the team’s key objectives was improving the defensive bench depth. Along with strategic draft picks, Holmes rebuilt the defense through free agency.  He signed Las Vegas Raiders veteran Amik Robertson, and Bengals defensive star, D.J. Reader.  Additionally, the Lions acquired former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Carlton Davis. Davis has been instrumental to the Lions’ defense, leading the team with 23 tackles.   

Alim McNeill is another standout defensive player. On Sunday, McNeill delivered two sacks and assisted on two tackles. Earlier this week, the Lions signed McNeill to a four-year, $97 million contract extension with $55 million guaranteed. Although he missed two weeks due to a concussion, when Alex Anzalone is on his game, he can be a smothering presence as demonstrated with a season-high 10 tackles against the Rams.  

A standout in preseason games, undrafted free agent Isaac Ukwu was activated from the Lions’ practice squad ahead of the Dallas game. Ukwu had two tackles on Sunday and could potentially help fill the gap left by Hutchinson’s absence. Finally, newly signed from the Bengals practice squad, the newest member of the Lions is defensive end Isaiah Thomas. Signed by Cleveland as a rookie in 2022, Thomas had nine tackles, one sack, and two quarterback hits in 10 games with the Browns. 

Defending Against The Vikings

This Sunday, the Lions face will face an enormous test when they take on their division-leading rival, the Minnesota Vikings. A rejuvenated Sam Darnold and the Vikings offense have been one of the biggest surprises in the NFL this year. The game against the 5-0 Vikings will be crucial in determining the Lions’ playoff standing. It could also answer the question about what the Lions’ defense looks like without Hutchinson. It will take an extraordinary effort from the entire defense to make up for Hutchinson’s absence. However, if the next-man-up philosophy holds and the defense can overcome the Vikings, the Lions will be in a tie for first place in the NFC North division.   

Main Photo Courtesy of Kimberly P. Mitchell – Detroit Free Press, Imagn Images