Should Aidan Hutchinson Play Fewer Snaps in Detroit Lions 2026 season?

[ASFN Admin]

Last year on Lions Wire, I advocated for a reduction in Aidan Hutchinson's snap counts. What happened was absolutely no change in snap count percentage from 2024 to 2025.

Here is the updated analysis of Hutchinson's snap counts entering 2026:

The most straightforward way to decrease injury risk to a key player is to reduce exposure. This means decreasing the snap counts over the course of a season. The most obvious candidate for this is Aidan Hutchinson who has been logging an extremely high snap count for multiple seasons.

His tib/fib fracture in 2024 was a fluky, non-accumulation injury which is the kind of injury risk that is directly modified by decreasing snap counts.

Let’s review Hutchinson’s defensive snap counts over the past two seasons and compare to other top pass rushers.

(credit pro-football-reference.com and fantasypros.com for snap count data)

Aidan Hutchinson 2024 snap counts​

Average = 91% (over first 4 complete games)

Per game:

1. 90% (70 snaps)
2. 90% (43)
3. 97% (57)
4. 87% (78)
5. 46% (32) - tib/fib fracture

Aidan Hutchinson 2025 snap counts​

Average = 91%

Per game:

1. 96% (46 snaps)
2. 84% (57)
3. 93% (53)
4. 94% (63)
5. 94% (58)
6. 95% (61)
7. 91% (63)
8. 98% (61)
9. 93% (50)
10. 92% (66)
11. 94% (77)
12. 95% (60)
13. 94% (77)
14. 79% (57) - possible minor back strain
15. 82% (61)
16. 96% (52)
17. 78% (43)

2025 Notable Player Comparisons​

Percentage snap count average per game for 2025 season (average does not include the games missed due to injury):

• 94% Maxx Crosby (935 total snaps) - 10 sacks. Missed the final 2 games due to meniscus cartilage surgery with additional suspected damage as detailed in my story: Did Maxx Crosby’s Surgeon Leak Reason for Failed Ravens Physical?
• 91% Aidan Hutchinson (1005) - 14.5 sacks
• 82% Myles Garrett (868) - 23 sacks, new NFL record
• 82% TJ Watt (812) - 7 sacks. Missed 3 games due to pneumothorax.
• 77% Brian Burns (862) - 16.5 sacks
• 77% Micah Parsons (707) - 12.5 sacks. Season-ending ACL with associated meniscus damage in Week 15.
• 77% Tuli Tuipulotu (735) - 13 sacks
• 76% Byron Young (854) - 12 sacks
• 76% Jared Verse (856) - 7.5 sacks
• 70% Danielle Hunter (728) - 15 sacks
• 67% Will Anderson (694) - 12 sacks
• 61% Nik Bonitto (684) - 14 sacks
• 47% Josh Sweat (540) - 12 sacks

Quick Takeaways of Snap Count Data​

• In the 2025 season, no EDGE pass rusher played more total defensive snaps than Hutchinson. Only one had a higher snap count percentage per game (Maxx Crosby).
• Almost all of the leading sack leaders are in the 60-80% range for snap counts.
• The new NFL record holder for sacks (Myles Garrett) played 82% of snaps.

Snap Count Recommendations​

Entering the 2025 season, I advocated for lowering Hutchinson’s snap counts to increase the likelihood he would make it through the entire season and into the playoffs. The Lions made no change to his snap count deployment, but fortunately he was able to stay healthy.

There are potential on-field benefits beyond just injury risk reduction.

• Sack numbers might actually increase as a result.
• Being fresher for high-leverage plays like critical 3rd & 4th downs or end-of-game or end-of-half passing situations may be worth missing 10-15 snaps in each game.

I continue to recommend his snap count be lowered to the 70-82% range - matching those of other top EDGE rushers.

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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Should Aidan Hutchinson Play Fewer Snaps in Detroit Lions 2026 season?

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