The Detroit Lions’ pass rush next to Aidan Hutchinson is a big concern

A lot of things went wrong for the Detroit Lions on both sides of the ball in their season-opening 27-13 road loss to the Green Bay Packers, but their lack of a pass rush was among the most glaring issues.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love was kept clean essentially all afternoon. Detroit only recorded six pressures, tied for the second-fewest of any NFL team in Week 1. They were one of just three teams in the NFL to not record a sack in the season opener, along with Philadelphia Eagles and Carolina Panthers.

Three of those pressures came from Aidan Hutchinson, who was playing in his first game since the devastating leg injury he suffered against the Dallas Cowboys in October of 2024. The rest of Detroit’s three starters on the line - Marcus Davenport, DJ Reader and Tyleik Williams - each recorded just one apiece.

It was a pretty uninspired first game from a group that’s supposed to feature a Defensive Player of the Year contender as its headliner. The Lions did well against the run, allowing just 78 rushing yards on 25 attempts, but Green Bay burned them repeatedly with a highly efficient passing attack.

Love’s 188 passing yards might not scream “monster game”, but he looked very comfortable throughout the game and never particularly bothered by the rush.

Pass rush should be major concern ahead of Week 2 vs. Chicago Bears

That’s not what anyone thought they’d see out of this defense after training camp, where Hutchinson was reportedly so dominant that a “Hutch rule” was implemented to allow the offense to continue practicing even after he had beaten his man.

After watching Detroit’s offensive line on Sunday, it’s worth wondering if maybe that rule said more about them than Hutchinson and the rest of the pass rushers.

Sure, Hutchinson was being double-teamed all afternoon and didn’t have much of a chance to get to Love all on his own. But that’s where Detroit’s other pass rushers are supposed to benefit from the extra attention going towards Hutchinson. 

“We’ve got some guys that have to win their one-on-ones,” head coach Dan Campbell said on Monday. “They’ve got to step up and make their plays when they’re there. We’ll keep repping it. We’ll keep working it. We’ll keep tweaking with guys, too, and trying to find guys that we can put in one-on-ones and have a chance to win.”

Instead, Detroit’s other starters could only muster one pressure each. It was just one game, but there’s already plenty of reason to raise an eyebrow at Detroit’s relative refusal to address the edge position this offseason.

The Lions drafted just one edge rusher, Ahmed Hassanein, in the sixth round. He was then waived/injured him before the season. They couldn’t agree to a deal with Za’Darius Smith, who signed with Philly just before week 1. Everything was seemingly banking on Hutchinson returning to top form, along with getting a full season out of the often-injured Davenport. 

READ MORE: Aidan Hutchinson's latest comments on Packers loss should calm Lions fans concerns

Hutchinson’s production is a pretty safe bet to pick up eventually, but his ceiling for sacks could be severely limited if teams realize they can double-team him without needing to worry too much about a threat coming from elsewhere. 

Defensive tackle Alim McNeill is expected to return sometime in November, which will definitely add a big boost in the middle, but edge rusher is looking like a much greater concern anyway.

The Lions could have a big problem with their depth on the end, especially if an injury comes up. And there might not be a Za’Darius Smith-type of edge rusher available at the trade deadline this time, like there was last season.

There’s a whole lot of season left to play, and this is undoubtedly a talented front four on paper, but poor play on both lines of scrimmage has already cost Detroit one division game. If the trend continues against the Chicago Bears in Week 2’s home opener, the Lions might have a very serious problem on their hands.