J.J. Watt isn't walking through the door, Detroit Lions fans.
On the heels of the devastating injury to Aidan Hutchinson, it's understandable that fans are searching far and wide to figure out how to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive and well. Hutchinson's loss, which will foreseeably for the remainder of the season after surgery on Monday to repair a broken tibia and fibula, leaves a massive and irreplaceable hole on the defensive side of the ball.
While a name like Maxx Crosby remains a possibility as the Las Vegas Raiders could look to trade him for picks as their season looks bleak, some fans reached out on X to Watt to inquire about his interest in returning.
"Lions fans, I see, hear & appreciate you," Watt wrote on X in response to one fan who asked how many times he's been asked since the injury. "Love your squad, love Detroit and love Hutch. Gutted for him. This morning I poured a cup of coffee and took a walk by the lake with my wife & son before breakfast. I'm very much enjoying this phase of life."
The loss of Aidan Hutchinson leaves a major void for Detroit, but it's one that won't entice J.J. Watt to return to the NFL. Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year retired following the 2022 season. During his career, he was recognized with five Pro Bowl selections, five First-Team All-Pro nominations, and a two-time sack leader. He also was the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year recipient in 2017.
Whenever any team loses a star defensive end, it's no surprise fans of that team are reaching out to him. After all, he only retired at 33 following 12 seasons. He played all 16 games in his final campaign with Arizona and racked up 12.5 sacks, which marked the sixth time he collected double-digit sacks in a season.
If the Lions, who are 4-1, decide to bring in outside help, they'll have to seek help elsewhere. The aforementioned Crosby will certainly be a popular choice.
Since entering the league as the No. 2 overall pick in 2022, Hutchinson has been a force. He notched 21 sacks over his first season. Through five games this year, he was already well on his way to a historical season with 7.5 sacks.
His loss is devastating for Detroit and the NFL fans alike. He has a chance to go down as one of the best ever to do it.
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