The Detroit Lions lost a key member of their defense all the way back in Week 6 when star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson suffered a serious injury that is forcing him to miss an extended period of time.

Ever since Hutchinson went down with a broken tibia and fibula, there have been reports suggesting he could make it back for the Super Bowl if the Lions make it that far.

And one even suggested he could make it back by the NFC Championship Game, although that seems like a total pipe dream.

“Here’s where he is: He’s actually doing some underwater running on an underwater treadmill,” FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer said a few weeks back.

During a recent appearance on a podcast, Hutchinson cleared the air about what his target return date is, and it isn’t as early as Glazer is reporting. Here’s the latest on Hutchinson, in his own words.

“I’m on track for my goal of returning for the Super Bowl,” Hutchinson said. “And so, I keep telling all the boys when I see them in the (Lions) facility, ‘You’ve just got to get there. And I promise you I’m going to be back.’”