Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson on “deep relief” of contract extension
Hutchinson said he wasn’t involved too much in the contract negotiations, but feels relieved that he can focus all his attention on playing.
Aidan Hutchinson was back on the field, but the Detroit Lions’ injury concerns in the secondary are growing.
Hutchinson was a full participant in his return to practice Thursday, Nov. 13, after sitting out Wednesday, Nov. 12, with an elbow injury, but the Lions remain without two starters in their defensive backfield and Amik Robertson was added to the report with a hamstring injury.
Robertson has played as the Lions’ No. 1 cornerback at times this season with D.J. Reed out since Week 4 with a strained hamstring and Terrion Arnold missing time with a slew of injuries.
Reed is on injured reserve but was a limited participant in his second straight day of practice. It’s unclear if the Lions will activate him off IR for this week’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Arnold is in concussion protocol and has not practiced this week, and safety Kerby Joseph is expected to miss his fourth straight game with a knee injury.
If Robertson can’t play and the Lions (6-3) don’t reinstate Reed to the 53-man roster, Rock Ya-Sin and Nick Whiteside could start at cornerback against an Eagles team that’s tied for the best record in the NFC at 7-2.
Tight end Sam LaPorta missed his second straight day of practice Thursday with a back injury, and defensive tackle Pat O’Connor (knee) did not practice Thursday after he was limited Wednesday.
Taylor Decker (shoulder), Penei Sewell (ankle), Marcus Davenport (pectoral), Josh Paschal (back), Miles Frazier (knee), Sione Vaki (ankle) and Brock Wright (ankle) also were limited participants in practice, and Malcolm Rodriguez (knee) and Graham Glasgow (back) were full participants.
Sewell, Vaki and Wright returned to practice after sitting out Wednesday.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
