By sack No. 4.5 last week, Detroit Lions third-year edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson admitted he was running out of dances.
"That fifth one I just put up my hands," Hutchinson said this week. "It was just one of those days, you know? Where you're just a magnet to the ball. It was fun."
Hutchinson will be looking for more of the same this week in Arizona, but the task will definitely be a little more difficult against Kyler Murray, who is one of the more elusive quarterbacks in this league.
If Hutchinson is able to get two more sacks Sunday in Arizona, he'd tie Michael Strahan for the most sacks (12.5) in a five-game span dating back to Week 17 of last season since sacks became an official stat in 1982.
Hutchinson currently leads the NFL with 5.5 sacks on the year and is on pace to break Strahan and T.J. Watt's record of 22.5 sacks in a season. Hutchinson is currently the highest graded edge rusher by Pro Football Focus so far this season.
"Sacks are a funny thing," Hutchinson said. "It's all about being in the right place at the right time and timing and a lot of those were just because the D-line were all rushing together as one too and that always helps. Everybody rushing together is vital in anyone getting sacks, really."
The Lions are expected to get all their pieces back together upfront along the defensive line for the first time this season Sunday against the Cardinals. That will be big for a unit that already ranks top five in the NFL in sacks (7), pressures (26), quarterback hits (19) and pressure percentage (32.9), and also is tied for the fourth best run defense (76.5 ypg) in the league.
Hutchinson has been the catalyst for Detroit's success upfront and the Lions hope that continues Sunday as the team tries to bounce back after their first loss of the season.
"I think it's a culmination of a lot," Hutchinson said of his play early in Year 3. "Definitely physically. Definitely mentally. Just being in the league now seeing what I've seen, everything kind of slows down more once you get in the game. And just my development as a player, too. It's just all those things year after year as those develop your level of play is only going to rise."
INJURY UPDATES
It was good to see rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold back at the open portion of practice Friday after missing Wednesday and Thursday with an illness. Linebacker Alex Anzalone practiced for a second straight day Friday as he continues to work his way through the return-to play concussion protocol.
"Terrion – so today will be a big day for him, and he was out there in walkthrough. He's feeling much better and so today will be important for him, running around, practicing, see what it looks like, but I would say he's trending the right way," head coach Dan Campbell said Friday.
"And Alex is really the same thing. He's been going through the protocol, and he was out there. He ran around a little bit, and we'll see where he's at today. There again, it's hard to say. You just never know with the concussion protocol."
Campbell also said left guard Graham Glasgow, who's been dealing with a knee injury this week, is good to go Sunday after returning to practice Thursday and Friday after sitting out Wednesday.
EAGER FOR FRIDAY
Friday is installation day for the red-zone gameplan at practice and Campbell admitted Friday he's been eager to get to this day after the Lions' 1-for-7 showing in the red zone last week cost them in a 20-16 loss to Tampa Bay.
"Yeah, I think we all feel that way," Campbell said Friday before practice. "I know us as coaches, but the players too. You can feel the urgency just in the walkthrough we just did. I think all of us want to spit that bad taste out of our mouth, so this is step one to get it done."
TIM PATRICK IMPORTANCE
Tim Patrick was a practice squad elevation last week and the expectation is that the veteran wide receiver will once again be part of the game plan this week.
Teams are allowed three elevations per player on gameday from the practice squad, so the Lions will have to decide on Patrick's roster status in the coming weeks.
"We only have three of those elevations per player, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it," Campbell said. "If somebody wants to poach, then we have a decision to make. But until then, the plan would be to elevate and use him.
"We expect to use him more this week. He's had a good week at practice. I like him, I really do. He fits us just the way he is, the way he works, his attention to detail, and he brings a little something different to us. He's a big guy. He's a big target, he's physical, he's tough, so I'm glad he's here."
Patrick gives the Lions some much-needed size (6-5, 210). He had a couple catches in the loss to Tampa Bay last week.
"I think he had two catches last game and the ones he caught he dragged guys for a yard and got the first down," wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El said Friday of Patrick. "He's a strong force for us. He'll help us out."
