Could Lions' Aidan Hutchinson return to the field after season-ending injury?

DETROIT (FOX 2) - Lions defensive star Aidan Hutchinson may still have a broken leg, but his spirit is far from broken. Since the week six injury, we’ve seen glimpses of Hutch’s rehab—including an underwater treadmill.

FOX 2 asked Dr. Christopher Cooke to compare Aidan Hutchinson's injury with Terrell Owens's broken leg during the 2004 season. Owens's injury happened in week 14 of that year, and he returned when the Eagles went to the Super Bowl, seven weeks later.

Dr. Cooke says the big difference is Owens broke his fibula. Hutch broke his tibia, which is the stronger of the two bones.

On Monday, Fox Sports insider Jay Glazer reported sources told him the Lions are "holding out hope" Hutchinson could return by the NFC Championship Game Jan. 26, if the Lions make it that far. Here’s what head coach Dan Campbell had to say:

"This is a tough injury. It is, but I just would never count him out; just knowing who he is," said Campbell. "He’s working. He’s progressing, but I can’t say. I can’t give you a timeline."

FOX 2 asked Lions long snapper Hogan Hatten about the report too. 

"He’s up walking. He looks good. We’re all praying for his recovery. We think, you know, hoping the best that he can come back," said Hatten.

But in a season where they have already seen Detroit pull off miraculous feats—like kicker Jake Bates’s game-winner against Houston and Jared Goff’s fourth down trip mid-handoff on Thursday’s game-winning drive.

Could we see Hutch return from what some believed was a season-ending tibia injury?

"Possible, yes," said Cooke

Cooke is the Chief of Sports Medicine at Detroit Medical Center. He’s not Hutch's doctor but provided insight on the injury. Dr. Cooke says more than 90% of players can return from a broken tibia as soon as three months, as long as there are no complications or infections.

It also helps that Hutchinson did not damage other bones or ligaments.

"Do I think that he’ll play if the Lions make the Super Bowl if the Lions make it? I do," said Cooke. "Do I think he’ll play in the divisional or the NFC Championship round? I would be very, very hesitant. I would worry if he was my patient because there’s a lot of things he needs to do beforehand to demonstrate it’s safe for him to go back."

"What are some of the things you would need for him to do before he can return to the playing field?" asked FOX 2's Brandon Hudson.

"There’s a process," Cooke answered. "Every step of the way, there are tests. He has to be as strong as 90% on his operative leg as he is on his non-operative leg. So his quad strength, hamstring, calves, glute, not to mention his flexibility, needs to be increased before it’s even an option."