Low blocks on defensive stars such as Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson are a fact of life in the NFL. Lions head coach Dan Campbell strongly suggested that while refuting a report from ESPN on Wednesday the Lions organization complained to the league about low blocks on Hutchinson.
“That’s bogus,” Campbell said. “That’s a bogus report. I don’t know where that came from. Nobody from here ever did that. That’s bull.”
The usually mild-mannered Campbell was obviously irritated about the mentioning of the report, which came from ESPN’s Adam Schefter prior to the Lions facing the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football on September 22.
“The game is played a certain way, that’s the way it goes. It doesn’t matter whether we’re doing or somebody else is doing it to our guys. We know that, and we play accordingly.”
According to Schefter, the Lions sent video to the league office about low blocks on Hutchinson in Weeks 1 and 2. Detroit faced two division opponents in those games — the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.
Hutchinson has returned from a fractured tibia and fibula, which he sustained in October 2024.
“The Detroit Lions have taken notice, and they’ve asked the league office to monitor the plays against Aidan Hutchinson,” Schefter said during ESPN’s Week 3 Monday Night Countdown, via SI on Lions’ Christian Booher. “Not that that will protect him out there, but clearly people have noticed some of the plays, and the Lions want the league office to notice as well.”
Dan Campbell Strongly Refutes Aidan Hutchinson Report From ESPN
Clearly, Campbell wanted no part of Schefter’s report. The Lions head coach didn’t wait for the reporter Tuesday to finish his question before refuting the story.
According to Booher, Schefter’s report during the Lions-Ravens pregame show was a significant talking point on ESPN.
“He’s coming off the fractured tibia and fibula,” Schefter said. “If you watch his performance the first two games of the year, what stands out about that is the fact that it feels like opponents have been going low on him, so much so that the Lions have raised the issue with the league office. If you go back and look at the film from the first game, take a look at how Green Bay is coming at Aidan Hutchinson’s legs.”
During Schefter’s report, ESPN ran a couple highlights of plays where opponents blocked Hutchinson low. ESPN analyst and ex-NFL defensive lineman Marcus Spears argued he doesn’t like the low blocks on lineman.
But Spears called “the cut block” a “normal football play.” In so many words, Campbell did as well Tuesday.
Hutchinson Off to Another Tremendous Start
The 25-year-old didn’t have a great first game back from injury in Week 1. But since then, he has regained the form he had prior to his 2024 injury.
Through five games this season, Hutchinson has posted five sacks with 12 combined tackles and 12 quarterback hits. He’s also already tied a career-high with three forced fumbles.
Since the start of 2024, Hutchinson has 12.5 sacks, 19 quarterback hits and four forced fumbles in just 10 games.
Hutchinson made the Pro Bowl in his last full season during 2023. At his current pace, he’s going to compete for a spot on the NFL’s All-Pro team.
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