Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell accused ESPN's Adam Schefter reporting "bogus" information regarding the team's alleged concerns over team's targeting defensive end Aidan Hutchinson low following his return from a tibia and fibula fracture last month.
“That’s bogus. That’s a bogus report,” Campbell said while pointing his finger. “I don’t know where that came from. Nobody from here ever did that. That’s bull.”
Campbell denied that he's "seen any difference" in the way team's have approached Hutchinson.
“No. No, man. Nope. Game’s played a certain way, that’s the way it goes, man," Hutchinson said. “It doesn’t matter whether we’re doing it or someone else is doing it to our guys. We know that and we play accordingly.”
Hutchinson was carted off the field during the Lions' blowout win against the Dallas Cowboys last October and returned in Week 1. Schefter reported that there were "a few instances" where players were going low on Hutchinson during Detroit's Week 1 and Week 2 games.
“He’s coming off the fractured tibia and fibula. 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,” Schefter said during Monday Night Countdown in Week 3. “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.
“There’s a few instances where this happens, where they’re going low on Hutchinson. Some of these same plays that we saw in Week 1 against Green Bay also were on display in Week 2 against the Bears. The Lions have taken notice and they’ve asked the league office to monitor the plays against Aidan Hutchinson — not that it will protect him, but clearly, other people have noticed these plays and the Lions want the league office to notice as well.”
Hutchinson has recorded 12 tackles, 5.0 sacks, five tackles for loss, 12 QB hits and three forced fumbles in the Lions' first five games of the 2025 season.