Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard raised a few eyebrows Thursday when answering a question about veteran edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson. He said the fourth-year edge rusher looked even better this year coming off a major leg injury than he did last year when he was on a DPOY path before getting hurt.
After watching Hutchinson through four acclimation practices and Friday's first padded practice, it's really hard to disagree with Sheppard. Hutchinson has been dominant.
There's always a little bit of a mental and physical hurdle players have to overcome when coming back from a severe injury like the broken leg Hutchinson suffered in Dallas Week 6. That moment for Hutchinson came the first day of OTAs when he said he got kicked and stepped on and the leg felt great after that first practice. Since then, he said it's just been football as normal.
"It takes those physical things to happen to you to mentally kind of solidify where you are at and the confidence and moving past it," he said.
Now it's just about being the best Hutchinson he can be and the Pro Bowler said he's shooting for the stars in 2025. He was leading the NFL in both sacks and quarterback pressures when he was injured last season and was the leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.
"I'm at a point now in my career where it's like you're shooting for the stars every year," Hutchinson said of his aspirations for the 2025 season. "If that's not the expectation and the standard you put to yourself – it's got to be that way.
"Those first couple years you're getting in the league and you're figuring it out. Now, it's every year the standard is what it is."
For what it's worth, Hutchinson reminded media members Friday he had his best season at the University of Michigan in 2021 after breaking his right ankle the previous year in November of 2020. He had 14.0 sacks and 17.0 tackles for loss as a senior and ended up being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Lions. He joked he's hoping for the same kind of bounce-back in 2025 after missing most of 2024.
Watching Hutchinson through the first week of training camp, it's really easy to project him having a monster 2025.
VETERAN PRESENCE
Last season we had to wait until Week 2 of the regular season to see veteran defensive lineman DJ Reader take the field in his first season with Detroit. He was rehabbing a quad injury all through camp.
This time around Reader's been taking part in camp since Day 1 in his second season in Detroit and he's made his presence felt in the middle alongside first-round pick Tyleik Williams. His presence was particularly felt Friday in the first padded practice of camp as he pushed the pocket multiple times and stuffed a few runs, even drawing loud praise from head coach Dan Campbell on one rep.
"First day of pads is always fun," Reader said. "It's fun to just get your movements and things out the way. I think more so you just get to see what you're about first day. It's all about how you respond and how you get better."
The Lions ranked fourth in the NFL last year in total pressures from the interior of their defensive line with 132, but that was with team leader in that category Levi Onwuzurike, who they wont have in 2025 because of a torn ACL. They'll need Reader, Williams, Alim McNeill when he gets back, Roy Lopez, Pat O'Connor and others to step up and be a force inside.
Reader had 3.0 sacks and eight quarterback hits in 15 games last season and those numbers could improve significantly if defenses have to contend with a healthy Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport along the edge for an entire season.
View photos from Day 4 of Detroit Lions training camp on Thursday July 24, 2025.
Detroit Lions cornerback Dicaprio Bootle (17) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Dominic Lovett (19) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) and Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (12) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Ian Kennelly (27) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jackson Meeks (83) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator John Morton during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Kyle Allen (8) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (12) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (97) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Kingsley Eguakun (65) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard (15) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed (4) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Dominic Lovett (19) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Kyle Allen (8) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard (15) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Dan Jackson (28) and Detroit Lions running back Jabari Small (42) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Dominic Lovett (19) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator John Morton during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions assistant head coach/wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (97) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
REAL EVALUATION BEGINS
Friday's first padded practice meant tackling drills and physical 11-on-11 team periods. The intensity ramped up and Campbell admitted Friday it was the real start of training camp in his mind.
"Alright, first day of pads, so we're excited, the guys are ready to roll," he said before practice. "This is where the real evaluation takes place, so it's kind of been building to this, getting their bodies ready for this, and now we go.
"So, this is where you find out who is who. This is how the game is played and it is played in pads. So, we're excited, staff is excited, players are excited, ready to roll."
EXTRA POINT
After leaving practice early Thursday due to injury, cornerback Terrion Arnold (leg) and linebacker Derrick Barnes (hand) were both back at practice as full participants Friday.
