NFL News: Jared Goff turns heads with strong statement about key Lions teammate

The sting of falling just short last NFL season still lingers inside the Detroit Lions‘ facilities. That unfinished business is driving Jared Goff and his teammates as they look to build on last year’s success — and perhaps even dare to dream of a potential Super Bowl run.

One of the keys for the Lions will be keeping as many players healthy as possible, making the return of important pieces a major positive heading into the new season. Among them is Aidan Hutchinson, whose talent and presence have head coach Dan Campbell and the rest of the team hopeful he’ll make a significant impact.

The explosive pass rusher was forced to miss a large portion of last campaign due to a major injury, but his return to the field is now imminent. In fact, Goff himself recently expressed how impressed he’s been with the defensive end’s performance in recent weeks.

“Monster” is how Lions QB described his teammate, via ESPN’s Eric Woodyard. “Looks great,” Goff also added. “I’m excited about what he can do.”

Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions looks on prior to the NFC Divisional Playoff against the Washington Commanders at Ford Field on January 18, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan

Hutchinson’s return sparks hope in Detroit

While Hutchinson’s injury initially raised serious concern among teammates, coaches, and fans alike due to its severity, his return is not only highly anticipated — there’s also growing confidence that he could come back in even better form than before.

Kelvin Sheppard joined Dan Campbell’s staff as the new defensive coordinator following Aaron Glenn’s departure to the New York Jets. The newly appointed Lions DC has been one of the most optimistic voices when it comes to Aidan Hutchinson’s current form.

“Listen, I’m not saying anything about numbers, statistics or any of that. But, I see a better player than we had last year,” Sheppard said via NFL.com. “And you might be like, ‘Whoa.’ Like, that’s the same thing I said when I saw him out there. I’m like, ‘Whoa.'”

Feeling strong and ready to dominate

The protagonist of this story, Aidan Hutchinson, spoke with the media last Friday and shared that he’s feeling comfortable following the first intense team workouts alongside his Lions teammates.

“Football has been feeling normal for a long time now,” the pass rusher stated. “I would say first day of OTAs, I got kicked, stepped on, everything under the sun on this leg, and after practice I got up and I was like, ‘All right, we’re good.’ And I think it takes those physical things to happen to you to mentally kind of solidify where you’re at and the confidence and moving past it.”