DeAndre Levy Durability Concerns Continue

Nov 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions outside linebacker DeAndre Levy (54) before the game against the Miami Dolphins at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy missed all but 19 snaps in 2015, battling a mysterious hip ailment which has never fully been explained.

Levy returned for Detroit’s 39-35 win in Indianapolis in Week One. However, the veteran from Wisconsin showed major rust in his 2016 debut. Once the best coverage backer in the league, Andrew Luck and the Colts offense targeted Levy in the passing game with great success.

Perhaps we know why now…

LB DeAndre Levy, TE Cole Wick & CB Adairius Barnes not taking part in open portion of #Lions practice today.

— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) September 15, 2016

The Lions are already thin at linebacker, so I understand the impetus to keep Levy in the lineup. At the same time, he’s not helping the defense if he’s at less than 100 percent mobility. DeAndre Levy wins with quick reactions and the ability to consistently be in the right place at the right time. He cannot expect success if a quad, or a hip or an ankle is slowing him down.

Levy has battled all these maladies over the past 18 months. He’s an incredibly talented linebacker and an integral piece of Teryl Austin’s defense in Detroit, one with a diverse skill set and top-end ability. Alas, availability is not a strong suit right now for DeAndre Levy.