Within hours or days of when he suffered a season-ending broken leg in Week 6 of this past season against the Dallas Cowboys, there were reports Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson could make it back for the Super Bowl if the team got that far. A later report even suggested he could make it back for the NFC Championship Game if the Lions made it there.

Of course those potential scenarios were rendered moot when the Lions went one-and-done in the playoffs with a Divisional Round loss to the Washington Commanders. But by all accounts Hutchinson has been doing well in his rehab, and there are no concerns for him being back at full strength soon.

On “The Pat McAfee Show” on Radio Row during Super Bowl week, Hutchinson said he was close to putting rehab from his broken fibula and tibia behind him, and played it coy when asked if he could have played in the game had the Lions made it. A shade less than four months removed from the injury he would not have been a full strength for the Super Bowl, but maybe he could have played a few snaps and more than anything been a symbolic figure for his teammates.

Aidan Hutchinson takes another step in recovery from broken leg

All along, we’ve seen some glimpses of how Hutchinson is doing in his rehab. As far as his social media posts have gone, nothing will be put out there showing struggles or anything negative. Which is fine, but we know it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows rehabbing a broken leg. The simple act of walking has surely been a chore at times. Hutchinson acknowledged the arduousness of it all when he was on with McAfee, and said he was going to be glad to have that rehab behind him soon.

Hutchinson has definitely been at the Lions’ facility working with trainers and medical staff as the next steps in his recovery process get plotted. On Monday, with that in mind, we got a video of him running on the indoor practice field.

Aidan Hutchinson is RUNNING 👀#OnePride pic.twitter.com/83QOb0NtxW

— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔦𝔱 𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 📰 (@the_det_times) February 17, 2025

Hutchinson is clearly not at full strength just yet, and his running gait was very awkward. So of course the negative nellies have come out, with some lamenting the idea he would have been ready for the Super Bowl like had been rumored. Based on some of that sentiment, you’d think next season started next month and there should be significant cause for concern.

Last Thursday marked four months since Hutchinson broke his leg in Arlington, Texas. So to be running at four months and four days, assuming that’s the first time he has run like that, is notable and a good thing….even if it wasn’t aesthetically pleasing.