Dan Campbell is keeping his feet firmly on the ground. At the start of the season, when asked whether he viewed this season as “Super Bowl or Bust,” he answered, “I see Super Bowl.” Having fallen painfully in the NFC Championship game a year ago, the Lions roared back in emphatically this season. Despite being plagued by injuries to key players, they set a franchise record for wins (15) and points scored (564). But the head coach is taking it one game at a time and before the divisional round tussle with the Commanders, he shared his thoughts while providing an update on his “tone-setter.”

The Lions won consecutive division titles for the first time ever in the Super Bowl era and clinched the conference’s top seed, in another first for the franchise. Much of this success was built on the offense, which was the NFL’s highest-scoring during the regular season. A key contributor to that was running back David Montgomery, whom the Lions lost to injury in their Week 15 loss to the Bills, along with several other players.

Now, as the Lions prepare to take on the Commanders at Ford Field, Campbell has shared some positive news as he looks to make it to the Super Bowl this year. In a press conference, Campbell talked about the team’s injury situation and indicated that Montgomery would likely be back.

Campbell said, “5’s a big part of us. He’s a huge part of us. And to me, he’s a bell cow. He’s a tone-setter. He is the catalyst. So, there’s a place for him here. So, it’s going to be good to get him back.” The Lions running back had suffered a potential season-ending knee injury against the Bills in December.

Montgomery missed the rest of the regular season and it looked like the Lions would have to seek redemption without him in the playoffs. However, it appears he is on track to help his team with another shot at Super Bowl glory. Druing the course of the regular season, Montgomery accumulated 775 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns on 185 carries. While it is likely we will see him in some capacity on Saturday, there is uncertainty around two players.

Terrion Arnold injured his foot in the final game of the season against the Minnesota Vikings. Kevin Zeitler also suffered a hamstring injury in the same game. Talking about both players, Campbell said, “Well, I haven’t had any injuries in the last three days. So, I think we are okay. I’ll tomorrow where is everybody at. I can’t give you a straight-up answer off of three days. I just know everybody’s treatment has gone well… I can’t guarantee that they’re playing, but it’s much better than it appeared to be when the injuries happened. It’s positive news.”

Moreover, Alex Anzalone, who broke his forearm in the matchup against the Jaguars and missed six games, is now active again. The Lions return to practice on Tuesday and it will give the fans a good idea of how these players are progressing and whether they will make it to the game against the Commanders. 

For Dan Campbell, the return of Montgomery along with others would be a massive boost. Having notched three winning seasons in a row and an NFC Championship game, he has raised the expectations in Detroit. This season they have had six wins over playoff-bound teams while their two losses have also come against teams who have earned a spot in the postseason – the Bucs and the Bills. They have been battled hardened and a place in the Super Bowl for the first time in their history is not out of the question. But Campbell isn’t getting carried away.

“Listen, everything’s about this game right now,” Campbell said. “Look, I’ve said it before, I’ve been to the Super Bowl and I’ve lost it and it stinks, so it’s about this week. We’ve got to find a way to win this game, this week.” The Lions HC has experienced both sides of the spectrum as a player.

He went through heartbreak as a member of the New York Giants side that lost 34-7 to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV. He eventually became a Super Bowl champion with the New Orleans Saints in 2009. Now, as he aims to repeat the feat with Detroit, he is treading with caution.

Meanwhile, if the Lions make it all the way to the Super Bowl game, they could receive a massive boost with defensive end Aidan Hutchinson eyeing his return.

Aidan Hutchinson manifests Super Bowl appearance for Dan Campbell’s Lions

Hutchinson fractured the tibia and fibula of his left leg when the Lions beat the Cowboys 47-9 in the Week 6 matchup. Though he missed the rest of the regular season, he has his eyes set on making it to the Super Bowl game, if his team gets there.

Talking on “The Squeeze” podcast in December he said, “I keep telling all the boys when I see them in the facility, I’m like ‘You guys just have to get there, and I promise you I’m gonna be back.” 

With Hutchinson still not joining any practice sessions, it looks improbable that he’ll return this season. But his mates know how tough and determined the defensive end is. In October, Dan Campbell had praised the defensive lineman, saying, “I would never count Hutch out, ever. So yeah, probably a long road. But I would never count him out and I would say if anybody can make it back it’s him.”

Alright. It’s up in the air whether Aidan Hutchinson will return or not, but the Lions must be locked in for the divisional round against the Washington Commanders. And who knows, if the team clinches a Super Bowl spot, Aidan Hutchinson could have a fairy-tale return.