The Detroit Lions suffered a significant roster loss on Sunday when defensive end Aidan Hutchinson fractured his tibia and fibula and had surgery in Texas.
The Lions said on Monday that Hutchinson’s surgery went well and that he is expected to fully recover. However, his return date is undetermined at this time.
Meanwhile, NFL fans pondered on who could replace Hutchinson, who was having probably his greatest season yet, on the Lions’ roster. Many supporters implored J.J. Watt, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, to come out of retirement to replace Hutchinson.
Watt responded to these pleas on Monday, and it sounds like he would much rather retire.
“Haha once or twice,” Watt responded to a fan who inquired how many times he’d been urged to come out of retirement. “Lions fans, I see, hear, and appreciate you. Love your group, Detroit, and Hutch. I feel terrible for him. This morning, I made a cup of coffee and went for a walk by the lake with my wife and son before breakfast. I’m really enjoying this stage of life.”
Watt appears unlikely to return to an NFL roster.
Watt was among the first NFL players to respond to Hutchinson’s injury during Sunday’s 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys. The retired Houston Texan understands what it’s like to suffer a major injury like Hutchinson, having lost a significant portion of his career (2016, ’17, ’19, and ’21) due to injuries. His 2017 injury was identical to Hutchinson’s: a tibial plateau fracture in his left leg necessitated surgery the day after the game.
Leave a Reply