Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson went down with a right knee injury while celebrating a play in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Patriots in Munich, and video of the moment has raised concern for a torn ACL. The Lions have not announced a diagnosis at the time of posting. Hutchinson was not hit by an opponent on the play, which would make it a non-contact injury. An MRI will determine whether the ACL is involved. Detroit entered the day 6-2.

Aidan Hutchinson Injury History

The injury would be the second major leg injury of Hutchinson’s career. On October 13, 2024, he fractured his left tibia and fibula while sacking Dak Prescott in the third quarter of a win at Dallas, was carted off with an air cast, and had successful surgery that night in Irving, Texas. He was leading the NFL with 7.5 sacks in five games when it happened. He was cleared in May 2025, returned for the season opener, and recorded 14.5 sacks in 2025, a second-team All-Pro season in which he played 91 percent of Detroit’s defensive snaps. 

NFL Celebration Injuries

Celebration injuries have a long and painful history in the NFL. The most famous is Bill Gramatica, the Cardinals rookie kicker who jumped for joy after a 42-yard field goal in the first quarter against the Giants on December 15, 2001, landed awkwardly, and tore his ACL, ending his season in a 17-13 loss. On November 23, 1997, Washington quarterback Gus Frerotte head-butted a padded wall after a one-yard touchdown run against the Giants, sprained his neck, and was taken to a hospital at halftime, with some reports citing a concussion.

The most similar cases involve sacks. In September 2014, Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch tore his ACL celebrating a sack of Aaron Rodgers by imitating the Packers quarterback’s “Discount Double Check” gesture in a 19-7 win. A month later, Bears defensive end Lamarr Houston tore his ACL celebrating a sack of Jimmy Garoppolo late in a 51-23 loss to the Patriots, with Chicago trailing 48-23, ending his season. Both players had their seasons cut short, and Tulloch defended his celebration afterward.

When Will Aidan Hutchinson Return From His Knee Injury?

If Hutchinson’s injury is confirmed as an ACL tear, it would end his season and keep him out for most of next year’s offseason work. The Lions play next Sunday, November 22, at home against Tampa Bay. The key updates are the team’s diagnosis, the MRI results, and whether Detroit places him on injured reserve.