Aidan Hutchinson Return For Super Bowl A Nice Dream But Not Happening: Dr. Chao

Let's establish that Dr. David Chao is not a dream killer but a realist, so keep that in mind as he's going to discuss the Detroit Lions' hope that edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, out with a broken leg, can return if the team makes a Super Bowl run.

"The good news is I think he will be ready to go for the start of the next regular season," said Dr. Chao, OutKick's medical contributor. "As far as the playing in the Super Bowl stuff, that's interesting. Let's keep hope alive. My son wants to be a major league baseball player. I'm not going to dash his dream, but, come on."

ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 13: Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) is carted of the field with an aircast on his left leg during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions on October 13, 2024 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

So why doesn't Dr. Chao believe Hutchinson could be back for a Super Bowl game nearly four months from now if the Lions make it?

"Can his bones be healed by the Super Bowl? Yes," Dr. Chao said. "But that's like saying can your pipe can be fixed from a leak without talking about associated water damage. What about the muscle tissue associated? What about getting back in shape? No way no how."

This comes after Lions coach Dan Campbell would not rule out Hutchinson coming back in time for the postseason – perhaps if the team went as far as the Super Bowl in February.

"It's probably 4-6 months, but I would never count Hutch out. It hurts, but if anyone could make it back, it is him," Campbell said.

ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 13: Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell watches from the sidelines during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the