Caldwell: DeAndre Levy Needs Hip Surgery, No Decision Yet On IR Designation
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
Losing by 25 points wasn't the only setback the Lions suffered Sunday. DeAndre Levy re-injured his ailing hip during his season debut against the Cardinals, and head coach Jim Caldwell announced Wednesday that the linebacker now needs surgery.
Levy had sat out the first four games of the season, as well as much of the preseason, due to the nagging injury to his left hip.
According to Caldwell, the Lions still haven't made a decision on whether Levy will move to the injured reserve list, or if he'll stay on the 53-man roster.
"We haven't made a determination yet because every surgery is unique and every individual is unique, so it might take us a little time to kind of sort that out," he said.
Cornerback Alex Carter is currently on the short-term IR, but said he will be ready to return to practice next week, possibly opening up a spot on that list for Levy.
In Levy's six previous seasons, he has rarely missed playing time. He sat out five games in 2010 and two in 2012, but otherwise has been a steady presence for the Lions' defense. Last year, he led the team in tackes (151) and was second in the NFL. He also added 2.5 sacks (a career high) and an interception last season.
"Any time you have a guy who plays as well as he plays consistently, with the kind of experience that he has, obviously you lose that for a period of time – and he's been out for quite some time at this stage – he's a very, very integral part of what we do," Caldwell said. "But we do have some capable guys obviously in that position. That was one thing that we did this year; we were a little bit heavy in terms of the numbers that we typically keep at that spot just because early on in the season he was having some difficulties."
Josh Bynes has been filling in for Levy this season, and will be doing more of the same now that Levy is out for another extended period. He has 28 tackles so far this season, and his career high was 45 for Baltimore in 2013.
"He's a guy that's played well – active," Caldwell said of Bynes. "Oftentimes now because of the fact we are packaging quite a bit with different individuals, we have several different ways to kind of take care of issues. But he's part of the solution."
