Lions' Campbell won't count out Hutchinson returning this season - ESPN

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — If there's one thing that Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell says he has learned about Aidan Hutchinson, it's not to bet against him.

Campbell anticipates a four- to six-month recovery process for the Lions' star edge rusher after he underwent surgery to repair his fractured tibia and fibula, but the coach refuses to call it a season-ending injury.

«I would never count Hutch out. Ever,» Campbell said. «So, probably a long road, but I would never count him out and I would say if anybody can make it back, it'd be him.»

Campbell said Hutchinson's surgery went great Sunday night at Baylor White Medical Center in Irving, Texas.

During Sunday's 47-9 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, Hutchinson injured his left leg on a play in which he was sacking Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

While pulling down Prescott, Hutchinson's leg appeared to snap above the ankle when it hit the left leg of teammate Alim McNeill. He was carted off the field. Throughout the recovery process, Campbell said it might help that Hutchinson has faith in returning this season.

«Just knowing Hutch — he's got one of those rare… once he believes in it, he can will himself to find a way to get back,» Campbell said. «He's one of those guys — the mind can heal the body, and he'll find the next best thing and do whatever it takes to get back.»

«So, who knows? But yeah, I think it's huge,» he continued. «You know it's just sitting right out there, 'I can do this, I can get back. We'll be in a position to where I'll be able to come back and help.' And I do, I think it's huge.»

Without Hutchinson, Campbell is confident the Lions are still capable of winning a Super Bowl with the players they have. Moving forward, he has faith in