Adam Schefter of ESPN reported on Saturday that sources close to Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson believe he has a “realistic chance” of returning for the Super Bowl, should the team make it that far.
One source even suggested that it would be more surprising if Hutchinson does not return for a potential Super Bowl appearance than if he does.
Schefter added that Hutchinson does not consider his current injury as severe as the fractured right ankle he sustained as a junior at Michigan in 2020.
The 24-year-old Pro Bowler is recovering from a fractured left tibia and fibula, which he suffered last Sunday during a win over the Detroit Lions (video here).
Hutchinson has already undergone surgery to repair the fractures and has been placed on injured reserve by the team.
Hutchinson’s injury was particularly gruesome, and his absence as the team’s leading pass rusher will significantly affect the Lions’ chances of making it to the Super Bowl—something they have never achieved in franchise history.
However, Detroit did reach the NFC Championship Game last season for the first time since 1991, and Hutchinson appears optimistic about the possibility of returning for a potential run to the Super Bowl, scheduled for February 9, 2025, about three and a half months from now.
