Lions implement special rule to keep Aidan Hutchinson from interrupting practice 

The Detroit Lions are gearing up for a repeat run deep into the playoffs this season, but one of their own players seems to be disrupting practice and it’s forced coach Dan Campbell to take action.

Hutch on the comeback trail

Aidan Hutchinson has grown into one of the best pass rushers in the game over the last three years. He’s registered 28.5 sacks in his first two seasons and some change, and last year he was on record setting pace before his campaign was cut short with a horrific leg injury in which he broke his tibia and fibia in Week 5.

It was a brutal blow not just to Hutchinson, who had 7.5 sacks less than a third of the way into the season, but it was a devastating loss for the Lions who would see their defense decimated by injury as the season went on. Now Hutchinson is back, and apparently he is just effective, and disruptive as ever.

As the Lions gear up for their first preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons, Coach Campbell has had to install a new rule called the “Hutch” rule which basically means anytime Hutchinson breaks into the backfield to make a play on the QB or running back, the offense simple continues the play.

Super Bowl aspirations in the Motor City

The inter-squad practices are generally held with little to no padding, which means blocking becomes harder to do for the offensive lineman. Coach Campbell put it quite simply, “If you can’t block Hutch and he’s going to blow every practice up, then that’s not good either.”

Let’s be clear, the disruption that is being caused is a welcomed one. Coach Campbell won’t mind having to implement the “Hutch” rule, because it means he has one of the best defensive players in the league back on the D line, and not just back, but looking as quick and powerful as he was before his injury.

The Lions know this is a season that they have a possibility to do something the franchise has never done, win a Super Bowl. There are a lot of things that have to go right over the next six months, but if they stay healthy they certainly have the squad to make a run to Super Sunday.

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