DeAndre Levy Named Team Captain For Sunday, Likely To Make Season Debut
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
DeAndre Levy is likely to make his 2015 season debut Sunday at Ford Field against the Cardinals. He's been named a team captain this weekend, according to head coach Jim Caldwell.
And when asked if it was safe to say Levy would actually play in the game since he was a captain, Caldwell said he "would assume that you can probably make that assumption."
Levy hasn't played at all since the first preseason game, and returned to practice for the first time since late August last week, before the Monday night matchup with the Seahawks. He's been dealing with a nagging hip injury all season.
In his place has been linebacker Josh Bynes, and Caldwell said Bynes will still play even when Levy gets back to the field full-time.
"The thing about our structure on defense is that we still have packages that we use, so he will still get his playing time as well," Caldwell said.
Levy was the Lions' leading tackler last season, when the team finished second in the NFL in total defense. Detroit has struggled on that side of the ball this season, and has stayed in the bottom five or six of the league in most defensive categories. But they've allowed fewer points each week, including only allowing 13 Seahawks points on Monday. Defensive tackle Caraun Reid also scored the Lions' only touchdown in that game.
With Levy coming back, it could be the lift that the Lions need to get even close to being a dominant defense again.
"Well, obviously, any time you have a guy that has the kind of experience that he's had and the fine play that he's had through the years, that certainly makes a huge difference," Caldwell said. "Every year is different, but he adds a boost to us and he's a guy that, in the run and pass, can be a factor in the game."
