Aidan Hutchinson is looking forward to a second chance at the Philadelphia Eagles.
The first time Hutchinson faced the Eagles was in his first NFL regular season game Week 1 of his rookie year back in 2022. Hutchinson played 68 snaps in Detroit's 38-35 loss to the Eagles that day and finished with just one assisted tackle.
Three and a half years, 35.5 sacks and one massive contract extension later, Hutchinson is a much different player than the one the Eagles faced back in 2022.
"It was game one of the rookie year a long time ago," Hutchinson said this week. "I played (Eagles tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata) and I was like, 'If every tackle is like this, I was like, ooh.' It's good, we get to see them three years later now. I think I've grown quite a lot since then."
Hutchinson has since become one of the most dominant edge rushers in the NFL. He has the most career sacks in Lions history through a player's first four seasons and currently leads the NFL in total pressures with 7.0 sacks, 38 hurries and 11 quarterback hits.
He's third in the NFL in pass rush win rate this season behind only Myles Garrett and Will Anderson Jr., and he has generated pressure on 21 percent of his pass rush reps to start the season, the highest rate among players with 250-plus pass rush reps.
Sunday will be Hutchinson's toughest test of the season and maybe his toughest test since facing the Eagles back in Week 1 of his rookie season. Johnson hasn't allowed a sack or quarterback hit all season and Mailata has allowed just one sack against Denver (leads NFL in sacks with 46.0) and three total hits on quarterback Jalen Hurts all season.
Hutchinson is looking forward to the challenge and knows he and his teammates face a hostile environment in Philadelphia Sunday in front of a national audience with a chance to make a statement against the defending Super Bowl champions.
"We've been looking at this one on our calendar for a long time," Hutchinson said this week. "Coaches are going to have us ready, we're going to be ready for this game, and we really see this as a must win."
MORE REPS FOR WILLIAMS
With the return of Alim McNeill and the emergence of veteran Roy Lopez in the middle of Detroit's defensive line, rookie first-round pick Tyleik Williams has seen his playing time decrease recently.
After averaging around 31 snaps per game the first six weeks of the season, Williams played 22 against Tampa Bay Week 7, 11 vs. Minnesota Week 9 and a season-low eight snaps Sunday in Washington.
"I think he understood what he was getting himself into when he was drafted and what it would look like when Alim (McNeill) came back," defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said Thursday. "So, I don't think he's surprised by any stretch. We're completely transparent here. It's no knock against him."
Williams has six tackles (two solo), one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit on the season. Sheppard said the Lions aren't down on Williams' play, they just have a very deep defensive tackle group. Sheppard does want to get Williams more involved moving forward.
"I would like to see Tyleik play more with what he was doing early in the year," Sheppard said. "It's a lot of growth with him and he knows where I need him to continue to grow and strive. But he should be playing more than eight to 10 snaps, and we'll make sure that happens."
EXTRA POINTS
- Defensive lineman Josh Paschal is nearing his return from a back injury that has kept him out the first nine games of the season. When Paschal gets back in the lineup, defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said the fourth-year veteran will have an immediate role in his defense. "I know exactly what Paschal brings to the table," Sheppard said. "I know exactly how he can help us. And like I told him a month ago, as soon as he's available, he'll be right back, plug-and-play exactly where I see fit for him."
- Tackle Penei Sewell (ankle), Hutchinson (elbow), tight end Brock Wright (ankle) and running back Sione Vaki (ankle) all returned to the open portion of practice Thursday after sitting out practice Wednesday.
- Tight end Sam LaPorta (back), cornerback Terrion Arnold (concussion) and safety Kerby Joseph (knee) missed the open portion of practice for a second straight day.
