Levy doubtful for Lions vs. Seahawks

DeAndre Levy almost certainly will have to wait another week to make his season debut, but the Detroit Lions linebacker said he took “a big step” in his return from a strained hip muscle this week just by getting on the practice field.tmpplchld “This week, it was big progress,” Levy said after practice today “But it’s kind of just a test, test, test and respond before I can go and play 60, 70 snaps in a game.”tmpplchld The Lions listed Levy as doubtful on their official injury report, meaning he has just a 25 percent chance of playing Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks.tmpplchld But after being limited in practice all week, after a near six-week absence, even those odds seem a bit high.tmpplchld “It’s a day-to-day thing,” Levy said. “Some days feel good, some days don’t feel as good. It’s kind of a test it and see how it responds.”tmpplchld Josh Bynes has played well in Levy’s absence and is expected to make his fourth straight start at weakside linebacker Monday, but the Lions have still missed Levy, their leading tackler last year, mightily on defense.tmpplchld Opponents have completed more than 78 percent of their passes against the Lions this year, and the Lions rank 27th in the league in total defense.tmpplchld Levy, who suffered the injury at practice Aug. 24, said he’s antsy to get back on the field after watching the Lions struggle to an 0-3 start.tmpplchld “Football’s definitely not as much fun watching, especially when there’s things that aren’t going well,” Levy said. “You know you want to be a part of it, you know the good and the bad. But my patience, at first it was kind of tough but right now I’m settled and I accepted it. I know what I got to do to get better and get right. There’s a lot of football left.”tmpplchld Levy would not speculate if he’d return next week for the Lions’ Oct. 11 game against the Arizona Cardinals.tmpplchld “It’s progressing,” Levy said. “This last week has been good. This was a big step getting out on the field.”tmpplchld ___tmpplchld (c)2015 Detroit Free Presstmpplchld Visit the Detroit Free Press at www.freep.comtmpplchld Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.tmpplchld