Michigan is home for Aidan Hutchinson.

He grew up in Plymouth and went to high school at Divine Child in Dearborn before starring at the University of Michigan and going on to be selected by the Detroit Lions with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Hutchinson has been a Michigander his entire life.

So it was never really a question of if Hutchinson was going to sign an extension to stay with Detroit for the long-term but when. That when came Wednesday as Detroit's Pro Bowl edge rusher signed a four-year extension that keeps him home through at least the 2030 season.

"We really wanted to get a deal done," Hutchinson said Thursday. "But as you know these things can get a little bit hairy the more you get into it and the longer it goes with what you see from other guys around the league.

"We were able to get it done and move on from it and really just super grateful and just ready to focus everything on this season and move on from it and put that behind me and now really focus on what's important."

Hutchinson is the latest in a line of recent contract extensions for Detroit's young core who were drafted, developed and re-signed by the team.

"It's huge. It shows Brad's (Holmes) dedication to his draft classes and the guys he's brought in and the guys that he believes are those pillars of the team," Hutchinson said. "What can I say? I'm excited to play with Jared (Goff), Kerby (Joseph), Penei (Sewell), (Amon-Ra) St. Brown and all those guys that have gotten paid. It's exciting to have them around."

Hutchinson is arguably Detroit's most important defender and his return after missing most of last season with a broken leg has propelled Detroit's defense into one of the better units in football through the first half of the season.

He currently leads the NFL in total pressures generated (48), quarterback hurries (33) and is tied for the league lead in forced fumbles (4). He has the third highest pass-rush win percentage (25.2) and fourth highest pressure percentage (19.2) among the league's pass rushers in 2025. His 6.0 sacks currently rank seventh.

Hutchinson said he's happy the contract negotiations are behind him and he can put all his focus on Minnesota Sunday.

BACK AT PRACTICE

The Lions opened the 21-day practice window for linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez and safety Daniel Thomas this week and both players were on the practice field for the Lions Tuesday and Thursday.

Thomas, a core special teams player, has been on injured reserve since suffering a forearm injury in the Lions' Sept. 22 win over Baltimore. Rodriguez, a key defensive reserve and special teamer, has been sidelined since he tore his ACL last November.

"It feels normal again," Rodriguez said Thursday of being back at practice. "I'm just blessed and kind of grateful to be back out there. It's a long rehab session and it's one of those things like riding a bike. Have to dust off the cobwebs, but it feels good to be back out there."

Rodriguez's return gives the Lions terrific depth at linebacker behind starters Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone and Barnes. He has 24 starts under his belt in three seasons with 3.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and 10 tackles for loss.

GOFF AT FORD FIELD

Quarterback Jared Goff has recorded a 116.4 passer rating with a 74.9 completion percentage at home this season, both the second-highest marks in the league trailing only Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.

The Lions host division rival Minnesota on Sunday. They are looking for their sixth straight win over the Vikings and their fifth straight at Ford Field.

"We want to win our division, we want to win every division game," Goff said this week. "These guys are in our division, they're a good team, they've been good for a long time, they're extremely well-coached, they've got extremely good players. They're going to come in here and give us everything they've got. We've got to know that coming in and give them everything we've got."

EXTRA POINTS

• Crazy statistic of the week: The Lions are the only team in the NFL that has not converted a 3rd and 10-plus situation on offense this season. Detroit is 0-for-20 in those instances on the season.
• Wide receiver St. Brown enters the game tied for the league lead in touchdown receptions with seven, six of which have come in Detroit's three home games this season.