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 pulled during the third quarter of Detroit’s game against the Dallas Cowboys with a serious left tibia injury.
Hutchinson will stay in the Dallas area for surgery, Lions coach Campbell said after Sunday’s victory 47-9 about jeans.
Hutchinson’s leg appeared to break above the ankle when he collided with teammate Alim McNeill’s left leg while Hutchinson was tackling Dak Prescott in the third quarter.
The Lions led 34-6 at the time of the injury to Hutchinson, who entered the game leading the NFL in sacks with 6.5.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell paid emotional tribute to Aidan Hutchinson
Hutchinson was removed from the game against the Dallas Cowboys with a serious injury to his left tibia.
Speaking about his player after the game, Campbell said: “That’s tough.” You know, it was difficult. And right now he is in good hands, they are taking care of him.
‘He will stay here (in Dallas). You know, he’s obviously going to be down for a while. So that’s tough, man.
“It’s hard to lose someone like him. But we’ll know a lot more after this and obviously we wish him the best.
“It’s hard for everyone when you’re there and that’s one of you and something like that happens.”
“If you think about it too much and start playing a little coy, that’s when you get hurt.” So the guys came back and lived the moment we found ourselves in.”
There was a delay of about 10 minutes while medical staff tended to Hutchinson while players from both teams formed a large circle around the second overall pick in the 2022 draft.
After Hutchinson was loaded onto a cart with one leg in a cast, his teammates and Dallas players reached out to pet the 24-year-old.
Hutchinson’s leg appeared to break when he collided with teammate Alim McNeill’s left leg.
Players from both teams formed a large circle around the second overall pick in the 2022 draft.
Hutchinson recorded Detroit’s third sack of the game. McNeill had the first two.
“I haven’t seen it myself, so I couldn’t say,” McNeill said.
“I didn’t know if it was him or not, but I felt someone hit me and then I saw Hutch fall. It’s incredible to see. I hate that for him.
Prescott, who landed on top of 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 who tried to offer Hutchinson words of encouragement as he was carted off the field.
“It’s 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 get back in touch.
‘When you’re in it, it’s blurry. So I don’t even know if he heard them. It doesn’t matter if you heard them. I understand where I was.