ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Monday it's a four-to-six-month recovery time for star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson following a successful surgery on his broken tibia and fibula at a Dallas-area hospital Sunday evening.

But with a player like Hutchinson, he won't discount the possibility of a late-season return.

"Look, it hurts," Campbell said. "It hurts to lose somebody like him. Not only the player, but the person that's in the locker room, the leader that he is. Look, it's 4-6 months. I would never count Hutch out. Ever. ... I would say if anybody could make it back, it'd be him."

Campbell didn't specify when exactly he believes Hutchinson could make it back in a best-case scenario.

The Detroit News reported Sunday night that Hutchinson, who was a top candidate for the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award before getting injured during a third-quarter sack of Dak Prescott in Sunday's 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, suffered an injury that is less severe than originally thought and could return for the Super Bowl should the Lions make it according to a source close to Hutchinson.

The possibility of helping his team achieve the ultimate prize is a powerful motivating factor, Campbell said.

"If he believes in it, he can will himself to find a way to get back. It's one of those guys that the mind can heal the body, and he'll find the next best thing and do whatever it takes to get back," Campbell said.

"So, who knows? But yeah, I think it's huge, man. 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.' I do. I think it's huge."

In any matter, Campbell made clear one thing: The Lions are not panicking.

Campbell said Lions general manager Brad Holmes will continue to survey his options around the league, as he always does, for opportunities to improve the team, but they're not pinning their hopes on a trade-deadline acquisition.

"He's looking. Is there somebody out there that can potentially help us? What is it going to cost? Those things will always come up," Campbell said of Holmes. "Just because that's there doesn't mean we're going to do it. It's got to be right. Everything's got to be right."

It's worth noting that Holmes might have already called around on potential additions at edge rusher following the season-ending injuries to defensive end Marcus Davenport and outside linebacker Derrick Barnes.

But even without reinforcements, Campbell was unwavering in his belief — and his players' belief — that his team could win a Super Bowl without Hutchinson, a defensive captain alongside linebacker Alex Anzalone, on the field.

"Look, everything is on the table. But, man, we're not panicked. Brad and I are not panicked, and this team is not panicked. It's next-man-up (mentality), and if we have an area where we need some help, then we have to help each other out a little bit here, and we may have to play a little bit different," Campbell said.

He continued: "My job is to coach what's here, and I'm going to coach the hell out of them. We are, as a staff," Campbell said. "So yeah, I do believe (we can still win a Super Bowl). If we get somebody, great. If we don't, these are our guys. The coaches know that. This is what we came into camp with. This is why we develop talent. It's next-man-up, and they've got to be ready to go."

As it pertains to the defense, specifically, one thing giving Campbell confidence in the unit is Aaron Glenn, who is coming off one of his best performances as a defensive coordinator over his four seasons in Detroit.

The Lions forced five turnovers — including three from safety Brian Branch — and held Dallas without a touchdown for the entire game, even after Hutchinson left the game at 9:50 in the third quarter.

So far this season, Detroit's defensive performance on a week-to-week basis has been the most consistent since Campbell, Glenn and Holmes arrived in Detroit in 2021. The Lions' defense ranks seventh in expected points added (EPA) per play (-0.17) and sixth in EPA per pass (-0.21) in addition to a run defense that ranks 11th in EPA per play (-0.09).

"What gives me hope moving forward is Aaron Glenn. We've been coaching here four years, and he's done everything in his power to work around any personnel we have and use the players that we have and get the most production we can," Campbell said.

"We will be able to adapt to that. I have a lot of faith in that D-line room. ... We've got options. It's why we play with three phases: We play offense, defense and special teams. That's why we do it, and we help each other out. We'll be just fine. We're going to move forward."

Hutchinson's Instagram account shared an update Monday evening in conjunction with his lifestyle brand, House of Hutch. The statement said Detroit's motto, "Resurget Cineribus" (which translates to "It will rise from the ashes"), will be "close to his heart" during his recovery process.

"In light of Aidan's injury last night, we want to thank you all for the outpouring of love and well wishes," the statement said. "Your support throughout this shocking situation means so much to our family. We are blessed to share that Aidan's surgery was a success. Thank you to the doctors and nurses who have taken such good care of him.

"Aidan wants you all to know that he is healing and a redemption story has begun."

The Lions have a handful of players who can help cover the workload in the short term.

Defensive tackle Alim McNeill had his best game as a pass-rusher on Sunday, turning a season-high seven pressures into two sacks. He also recorded six pressures and a sack in the team's Week 4 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Levi Onwuzurike's play has been a revelation, and it's possible they'll get back John Cominsky, who suffered a knee injury in training camp, by the end of the year.

Former UDFA and Salem High School graduate Trevor Nowaske has been a surprise in the early stages of his career while filling in as a replacement for Barnes; he has five pressures on 26 pass-rush snaps through two games, per Pro Football Focus. Edge defender Josh Paschal, the primary replacement for Davenport, recorded two pressures, as did defensive tackle DJ Reader.

Sunday was also the NFL debut of UDFA rookie Isaac Ukwu, who had a sack in each of the team's three preseason games before sticking on the practice squad entering the regular season. Campbell admitted "it looked like it was his first NFL game" but is confident in his continued development.

"Honestly, where we're at right now, we're not in a hurry. I believe in the guys that are here," Campbell said. "I believe in that D-line.

"Doesn't mean we're not looking, (that) we're not evaluating. Brad is, that's his job, and he's good at it. We'll take it as it comes. But our eyes are open, and we want to make sure that we have what we need here."

In Campbell, Glenn and the rest of the defense, the Lions have one thing for certain: A resilient bunch.

And if what Campbell believes about Hutchinson's return ends up being true, they might also have a superhuman leading the defense.

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