The Detroit Lions have been without superstar pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson since he broke the fibula and tibia bones in his left leg during a Week 6 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
This type of injury is almost always season-ending. But with the Lions' Super Bowl aspirations and Hutchinson's toughness, a possible postseason return is on the table for the 24-year-old defensive end.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell provided an injury update on Hutchinson. While he didn't give a definite answer, he did stir hope with a positive statement regarding Hutchinson's chances to return.
"[Hutchinson] has a season-ending injury. But if anybody can come back from this, it would be Aidan. That's the best way to say it," Campbell said.
In the same update, Campbell shut down the possibility of returns for Carlton Davis III and Derrick Barnes.
In mid December, Hutchinson himself revealed he's "on track" to make his return if the Lions make the Super Bowl.
"I'm on track for my goal of returning for the Super Bowl," Hutchinson said. "And so I keep telling all the boys when I see them in the facility, 'you just gotta get there and I promise you I'm gonna be back.'"
The Lions claimed the NFC's No. 1 seed with a Week 18 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. With the top seed, the franchise earned a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell
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The Lions will face off against the winner of a wild card matchup between the No. 4 seed Los Angeles Rams and No. 5 seed Minnesota Vikings in the divisional round.
