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Lions sign Bengals player to replace Aidan Hutchinson

Originally posted on NFL on ClutchPoints | By Ben Strauss | Last updated Oct 15, 2024 9:11 AM ET

The Detroit Lions had a fantastic blowout victory against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. However, the win was marred by injury, as the Lions lost star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson for the season with a serious leg injury. Detroit signed a Bengals player to replace Aidan Hutchinson, but it probably isn’t the one many fans were expecting.

The Lions plan to sign defensive end Isaiah Thomas off the Bengals practice squad, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Thomas is a former Browns draft pick who can give Detroit some much-needed pass rush help as a rotational player.

The Cleveland Browns drafted Isaiah Thomas in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Thomas was viewed as a raw prospect coming out of Oklahoma. He possesses all of the physical traits that NFL coaches desire in an edge rusher. However, he dropped to the seventh round because of a lack of consistency, polish, and technique.

Thomas has only played in 10 NFL games, all of which came during his rookie season. He logged nine total tackles and had one sack and one fumble recovery for the Browns in 2022.

The Lions are taking a shot at Thomas as a reclamation project. It remains to be seen if the Lions will continue to add bodies at edge rusher to help replace Aidan Hutchinson.

Lions star Aidan Hutchinson breaks silence on scary leg injury

Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) reacts during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Aidan Hutchinson is starting his recovery process after suffering a very serious leg injury on Sunday against the Cowboys.

Hutchinson was rushed to the hospital for surgery after suffering a broken tibia in Detroit’s 47-9 victory over Dallas. He will stay in Dallas until he is healthy enough to travel back to Michigan.

The Hutchinson family released a statement on his behalf on Monday evening via Instagram.

“In light of Aidan’s injury last night, we want to thank you all for the outpouring of love and well wishes. Your support through this shocking situation means so much to our family. We are blessed that Aidan’s surgery was a success. Thank you to the doctors and nurses who have taken such good care of him. Aidan wants you all to know that his healing and redemption story has begun. He is holding the motto of Detroit close to his heart: resurget cineribus… He will rise from the ashes,” the statement read.

It is great to hear that Aidan is on the road to recovery. He is expected to miss four to six months following his surgery.

However, Lions head coach Dan Campbell refused to place limits on Hutchinson during an interview on Monday.

“I would never count Hutch out. Ever,” Campbell said, per Eric Woodyard of ESPN. “So, probably a long road, but I would never count him out and I would say if anybody can make it back, it’d be him.”

Next up for the Lions is a hugely important Week 7 matchup against the undefeated Vikings.

This article first appeared on NFL on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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