An otherwise banner time for the Detroit Lions, after a 47-9 nine win over the Dallas Cowboys, of course has a dark cloud hanging over it. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson suffered what head coach Dan Campbell confirmed to be a fractured tibia in his left leg and he had immediate surgery at a Dallas-area hospital.
"He's being taken care of. He'll stay back here (in Dallas), he's being taken care of. Obviously, he's going to be down for a little while," Campbell said. "So that's tough, man. It's hard when you lose somebody like him. But we'll know a lot more after this and obviously wish him the best."
While sacking Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the third quarter on Sunday, Hutchinson's leg whipped around and inadvertently hit teammate Alim McNeill. Hutchinson stayed down on the field and removed his gloves and helmet as trainers tended to him. An air cast was brought out and he was eventually carted off the field.
Hutchinson is obviously, most likely, out for the season, however long it should last for the Lions. There's little doubt he'll be ready for the start of the 2025 season, with no residual effects of the injury once he is recovered.
But, a couple reports from late Sunday night bring a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.
Aidan Hutchinson could return for the Super Bowl?
Citing someone close to Hutchinson, Michael Stone of 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit suggested the possibility of a return if the Lions make it to the Super Bowl.
A close member of @aidanhutch97 told me the following.
— michael stone (@stoney16) October 14, 2024
Even though it looked bad, it’s less of an injury than he suffered in college. Pretty soon he will be bionic.
when we make it to the Super Bowl, he will be ready to go.
Hutchinson suffered a fractured right ankle during his junior season at Michigan in 2020. So it was not the same leg he injured on Sunday, and per Stone Sunday's injury is "less of an injury" than the one in college.
Nolan Bianchi and Richard Silva of the Detroit News reported something similar.
"A source close to Hutchinson told The Detroit News on Sunday that the injury appears less severe than a worst-case scenario and Hutchinson might be able to return for the Super Bowl, should the Lions make it."
Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans is on Feb. 9, a shade less than four months after Hutchinson was injured. Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens famously played in the Super Bowl just seven weeks after suffering a broken right leg with a torn ligament in his ankle and requiring surgery, but it's safe to say his injury was not as severe as Hutchinson's is.
Still, even if it's only a faint possibility, the idea Hutchinson could return for the Super Bowl if the Lions make it is good news about his injury in the bigger picture.