Tag: Detroit Lions

Lions Aidan Hutchinson relieved that $180 million extension is a done deal

ALLEN PARK — Lions pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson may have signed a four-year $180 million extension on Wednesday, but on Thursday it was back to work.

“While it’s great news, it’s all Minnesota in my brain,’’ Hutchinson said on Thursday. The Lions face the Vikings on Sunday at Ford Field.

Hutchinson’s deal, with a guarantee of $141 million, will keep him with the Lions through the 2030 season. He was previously signed through 2026.

It’s a dream come true for a hometown kid who played college ball at Michigan.

“I’m really super grateful and ready to focus everything on this season and put that behind me and focus on what’s important,’’ Hutchinson said. He thanked the Fords and the entire organization. 

He left the negotiations to his agent and his parents. He signed the deal on Wednesday but said the highlight was when he heard about the deal.

“I feel like me hearing the news and hearing the offer coming in, to me you get that deep relief that the negotiations are over with,’’ Hutchinson said.   “I was very uninvolved in the process so there wasn’t too much focus. As much as uninvolved as you are, it’s still something that’s there. But now with that not being there, I’m all in.’’

Since he was drafted second overall in 2022, he’s never disappointed. He broke his leg in Week 6 in 2024, but has come back like it never happened, typically playing 93 percent of the defensive snaps in the first seven games

Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard was asked if he thought of giving Hutchinson, 25, more rest during a game. He suggested the reporter suggest that to Hutch because it wouldn’t go over well.

“If he can handle it, why take anything off him if he’s handling it well,’’ Sheppard said.

In other words, don’t expect to see Hutchinson to get many breathers. So far he has six sacks and 29 quarterback pressures which is second just to Micah Parsons.

“We just gave him half the building so he needs to play 95 percent,’’ Sheppard said with a smile. “He’s a tremendous, tremendous athlete, superior athlete and not by God-gifted talent, I’m talking about hard work and dedication, he’s conditioned his mind and body to do that.’’

UP NEXT: Vikings (3-4) at Lions (5-2), 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2 at Ford Field.)

Lions look to get Jameson Williams more involved in the offense

ALLEN PARK — Jameson Williams should play a larger role in the Detroit Lions offense. In the win over Tampa Bay, before the bye week, the wide receiver was targeted twice but had no catches. 

Actually he had one for 14 yards but it was negated by a questionable offensive pass interference penalty.

Scottie Montgomery, assistant head coach/wide receivers coach, called it a “great back shoulder catch” but then zipped his lips to prevent paying a penalty.

The way Williams handled it, showed his growing maturity level.

“I thought that was really going to frustrate him – it’s frustrating but it didn’t frustrate him to the point where he didn’t come back and have questions about what was going on and what we saw,’’ Montgomery said. “We have to get to the point where we’re not talking about potential we’re talking about more production and we’ll get there.’’

So far in seven games, Williams has 17 catches for 289 yards and two touchdowns.

The week before the Bucs’ win, in a loss at Kansas City, Williams had six catches on seven targets for 66 yards and a touchdown.

His most productive game yard-wise this season was two receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown in a win over Chicago. 

“We want to win the game, we want to score points and I think that’s the primary for everybody. But of course, yeah, we’d love to get (Williams) involved more, get him to rock in a million different ways,’’ quarterback Jared Goff said. “And he’s explosive – I know defenses are worried about him at all times and we need to find ways to continue to keep him involved.”

During the bye week, the coaches were studying film on how to get the most out of each player.

“It’s just one of those situations – it’s one of the things I studied where (Williams) is in the progression, what happens when he is first, second, third in the progression,’’ Montgomery said.

“It’s kinda been all over the place. Either the progression started and he’s open behind the first progression or he’s the second progression and we don’t quite connect. Or we do everything right — the O-line everything is right and we don’t make the play down the field’’

Montgomery said it’s a combination of all those things. They’re working to get Williams more opportunities.

It’s a process and it doesn’t start during game week.

“It starts the moment that you walk into a room as a coach, you’ve got certain standards for guys, you also have to create a level of understanding that is selfless but you also have to have a bit of a selfish nature to you,’’ Montgomery said. “Because receiver is one of the only jobs where everybody else has to do their job almost perfectly for you to get the opportunity and because you’re the punctuation mark or you’re the period or the question mark or the exclamation mark —  right there to finish the sentence you have to have a different level of confidence to be able to finish drives, to finish plays, and finish with the ball in the end zone. It’s something we started a long time ago.’’

UP NEXT: Vikings (3-4) at Lions (5-2), 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2 at Ford Field.

Lions expect a more motivated Brian Branch on Sunday vs. Vikings

ALLEN PARK — It’s been two long weeks since Lions safety Brian Branch has played. First he served a one-week suspension following a melee after the loss at the Chiefs. Then the Lions had the bye week.

Branch is back on the practice field prepping to face the Vikings on Sunday at Ford Field.

“It’s great. BB he’s got two weeks off, he’s got fresh legs, he’s ready to go, a great little bye week in the middle. I’m excited,’’ defensive end Aidan Hutchinson said on Tuesday. “BB is one of the guys on our defense who is the heart and the soul and the tonesetter. I can’t wait to have him back.’’

A motivated Branch feels the same way.

“I feel like it’s another chip on my shoulder that they just added,’’ Branch said. “I also want to apologize for that and it’s something I don’t condone and it’ll never happen again. It definitely added another chip to my shoulder.’’

When asked if the suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct was merited, he hesitated before saying he’s dealt with the consequences and is moving on, learning to control his emotions after the whistle.

“Coach tells me all the time they’re going to pick at me during the play or try to get me to get out of my shell to retaliate,’’ Branch said. “But he said, still play with the fire just learn how to not retaliate and play between the whistles.’’

Jim O’Neil, Lions defensive assistant/safeties coach, expects to see a more motivated Branch.

“I’m really excited to see how he takes the field on Sunday when he comes out of the tunnel,’’ O’Neil said. “It’s great to have him back — he’s one of my all-time favorite people, all-time favorite players that I’ve ever coached. I love his competitive spirit, I’m excited to get him back out there.’’

Branch admitted that he couldn’t even watch the Lions beat the Bucs.

“Just watching them I guess just made me like just miss being out there, that’s something that’s hard,’’ Branch said. “I’ll be eager to get out there.’’

UP NEXT: Vikings (3-4) at Lions (5-2), 1 p.m. on Sunday at Ford Field.