Even though he's currently sidelined with a major injury, Detroit Lions star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson is still on the hearts and minds of fans.
Of course, Hutchinson suffered a broken tibia and fibula during the Week 6 game against the Dallas Cowboys that will sideline him the rest of the season, although there's hope that he could be back for the Super Bowl if the Lions make it that far.
Whatever the case may be, Hutchinson was recently the inspiration for the name of a turkey that has been pardoned by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in time for Thanksgiving.
Countless submissions were made for what the turkey will be called, and "Aidan Cluckinson" was the winning one.
“Today, we come together to continue our tradition of pardoning a turkey,” Whitmer said, per Krystle Holleman of WILX 10. “This year’s winning name is Aidan Cluckinson, which was one of hundreds of submissions based on our beloved Detroit Lions. The team has really captured our hearts and made us all hopeful for a Super Bowl this year. This Thanksgiving, I hope everyone enjoys time with loved ones, finds a way to give back to the community, and keeps on cheering for our Lions.”
Chalk up another "W" for the Lions and their fan base. That name is absolutely perfect. Some other Lions-themed candidates were "Gobbletron" and "Cran-Berry Sanders".
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Hutchinson has become a star with the Lions over two-plus seasons. After finishing as the runner-up in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting following a 9.5-sack season, Hutchinson followed that up with 11.5 sacks in his sophomore campaign.
Prior to his injury in 2024, Hutchinson was well on his way to being a favorite for the Defensive Player of the Year award after tallying 7.5 sacks through five contests. In fact, he's still ranked top five in that category.
The injury Hutchinson suffered stinks, but it's just a bump in the road for a player who is going to be elite for a long time to come.
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