As the old saying goes, “bye” heals all. Well, sort of.
Let’s start with the good news.
“We got better news on Zeitler and Arnold,” Campbell said. “I can’t guarantee that they are playing but it’s much better than it appeared to be when the injuries happened. So it’s positive news.”
Of course it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Campbell said he’s not feeling very good about a return any time soon from defensive lineman Pat O’Connor, and he also gave not-so-positive updates on three players who have been out with serious injuries, including Aidan Hutchinson.
Here’s the latest Detroit Lions injury updates after Campbell’s news conference during their playoff bye week:
Detroit Lions injury updates
Aidan Hutchinson suffered season-ending injury … but?
If it was anyone but Hutch, it wouldn’t be a conversation.
Hutchinson hasn’t given up on playing in this year’s Super Bowl, but Campbell said Tuesday the team does not expect Hutchinson or any of its other starters on injured reserve to return in the playoffs.
“Look, I’m going to say it again,” Campbell said when asked about Hutchinson’s health. “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.”
Hutchinson was in the midst of a Defensive Player of the Year-type season when he broke the tibia and fibula in his left leg in an Oct. 13 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
He still leads the Lions with 7.5 sacks this season despite playing in only five games and finished the year tied for 30th in the league in pressures (30) by a defensive lineman.
Hutchinson, who was given an initial four- to six-month timeline for recovery, has spent the past three months rehabbing around the team and was on the sideline for Sunday’s division-clinching win over the Minnesota Vikings.
While Campbell has been consistent with his message that he doesn’t think Hutchinson realistically can make it back since he suffered such a severe injury, Hutchinson himself has been singing a different tune.
Hutchinson in mid-December appeared on a podcast with actor and Lions fan Taylor Lautner and said he is “on track” to play in the Super Bowl if his team makes it.
Last week, Hutchinson posted underwater video of himself running in a pool with the caption “Making strides.”
While he wasn’t willing to make any promises, Lions coach Dan Campbell indicated Tuesday afternoon that he was pleasantly surprised about the injury reports he saw.
David Montgomery back for playoffs
The Lions’ “Sonic and Knuckles” running back duo will be at full strength when their playoff run starts in two weeks.
On Tuesday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell gave a short but affirmative answer to whether or not running back David Montgomery will be available when they play in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs on Jan. 18 or 19.
“I do,” Campbell said when asked if he expected to have Montgomery back this week.
Montgomery has been sidelined since injuring the MCL in his left knee in Week 15 against the Buffalo Bills. Before going down, he split the backfield evenly with second-year back Jahmyr Gibbs, who has stepped into a workhorse role since Montgomery went down.
Who could come back for Detroit Lions?
Dan Campbell isn’t a guy who overpromises.
Campbell reiterated Tuesday that linebacker Derrick Barnes (knee) and cornerback Carlton Davis III (jaw) are done for the year with their injuries.
Barnes tore the MCL and PCL in his right knee in a Week 3 win over the Arizona Cardinals and is at the front end of the initial three- to five-month timeline he was given for recovery.
Davis broke his jaw in a Dec. 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
“They’re doing great,” he said. “I don’t see them coming back at all. Those players, I don’t see them coming back at all.”
The only person with a shot to return Campbell said is cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr., who the team selected in the second round last year.
