Aidan Hutchinson’s return from a gruesome leg injury that stopped a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber campaign in its tracks last year has no doubt been the most anticipated re-addition to the Detroit Lions’ defense ahead of 2025, and for good reason. Hutchinson is a rare talent that doesn’t come around all that often. We’ve known that for some time.
But there’s another Lion in the front seven making his way back from injury whose return has flown a bit under the radar, and he was gone for even longer than Hutchinson.
Linebacker Derrick Barnes’ 2024 season was limited to just three games after he suffered torn MCL and PCL ligaments against the Arizona Cardinals after a cut block from tight end Tip Reiman.