Where's Aidan Hutchinson? Latest injury updates on Lions defensive star

While the Lions claimed the NFC's No. 1 seed this season, it wasn't because of a healthy season for their defense.

Detroit saw many of its top defensive players go down with injuries throughout its 15-2 regular season. Arguably no loss was as significant as the injury to Aidan Hutchinson, though.

Back on Oct. 13, as the Lions faced the Cowboys, Hutchinson went down with a gruesome leg injury. He has been sidelined since then, with Detroit's pass rush attempting to fill the void left by the 24-year-old star.

Although Hutchinson's injury certainly necessitated a long-term recovery, could he get healthy in time to appear in the playoffs for the Lions?

Here are the latest updates on Hutchinson's injury recovery.

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Aidan Hutchinson injury updates

Hutchinson's left leg injury against the Cowboys in October was later diagnosed as a broken tibia and fibula. At the time, he was in the Defensive Player of the Year race, playing some of the best football of his young career.

The 24-year-old defensive end's initial recovery period was estimated at four-to-six months, and he's been rehabbing since October.

Hutchinson has said he wants to return to the field for a potential Lions Super Bowl appearance. In December, the star pass rusher said he's told his teammates that they “just have to get there, and I promise you I’m gonna be back.”

This year's Super Bowl falls on Sunday, Feb. 9. That date would mark nearly four months since Hutchinson's injury, though that is still on the earlier side of his anticipated recovery.

Over the last few months, Hutchinson has been on the sidelines for Detroit still making an impact by coaching his teammates and keeping a headset on.

Having Aidan Hutchinson in your ear can make a difference. #OnePride pic.twitter.com/66EH839JlZ

Although Hutchinson has reflected confidence in his potential Super Bowl return, first, the Lions would have to get there. Detroit's playoff run will begin with a divisional matchup against the Commanders, and its potential NFC Championship Game opponent would be either Philadelphia or Los Angeles.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell said after the regular season that he does not expect Hutchinson, or any of his team's other players on injured reserve, to return during the playoffs. But he didn't entirely rule out Hutchinson pulling it off.

"Look, I’m going to say it again," Campbell said, per the Detroit Free Press. "He has a season-ending injury. But if anybody can come back from this, it would be Aidan, is the best way to say it."

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Aidan Hutchinson career stats

Hutchinson, without a doubt, has been one of the NFL's premiere pass rushers when healthy. He was drafted second overall by the Lions in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Here's a look at Hutchinson's year-by-year stats, including how he fared in five games this season before his injury.