Lions' Levy out again; agent says it IS a hip strain

DeAndre Levy will miss his second straight game Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings (1 p.m., Fox) because of what his agent described as a hip strain.

Levy has not practiced since Aug. 24 because of an injury the star Detroit Lions linebacker has yet to address.

Lions coach Jim Caldwell refused to say today how Levy suffered the injury. He walked over to a group of reporters during the open portion of practice to inquire about questions he fielded during his news conference earlier in the morning.

Caldwell declined to address a published report that Levy contracted a parasite during his off-season travels to Chile and that's what is keeping him off the field.

Last week, the fantasy sports website FanDuel reported that there was concern Levy was dealing with "possible internal damage" to his hip and could face an extended absence and surgery.

"I don't address rumors and innuendo," Caldwell said.

Joe Panos, Levy's agent, said there is no truth to the parasite report.

"A hundred percent — a hundred percent — false," Panos said. "I want to say a lot more, but I have to be professional."

Levy has not been available for interviews in the locker room in recent weeks and did not return a phone call seeking comment Friday.

Asked about the report that his teammate was stricken by a parasite during his spring trip to South America, linebacker Stephen Tulloch smiled widely and said: "You guys, it's out of control. You can't listen to everything you hear. I don't know anything about that."

Asked why he broke into a big grin, Tulloch said: "I laugh because it's the first time I heard it. I don't know anything about what's going on. I mean, when was the off-season, back in April? If he had some parasite, would he be alive? I don't know how it works. I don't know. Levy's OK."

Levy did not play in the final two exhibition games, and he missed last week's opening loss against the Chargers with what the Lions listed on their daily practice report as a hip injury.

The Lions struggled in pass coverage in Levy's absence as Philip Rivers rallied the Chargers from an 18-point first-half deficit for a 33-28 victory.

Josh Bynes will make his second start in Levy's place Sunday against the Vikings alongside Tulloch and Travis Lewis. Tahir Whitehead also is expected to see time at linebacker.

Caldwell repeated his oft-used line Friday when asked whether there's any concern that Levy could be dealing with a potential season-ending injury.

"I think I've mentioned this, and after a while, you guys will be able to write these things 'cause I'm going to answer them the exact same way," Caldwell said. "Anybody that's listed on our report, anything can happen, OK? That's the nature of the business."

The Lions decided to keep Levy on their 53-man roster at the end of training camp rather than use the injured reserve-designated for return spot, because they believed Levy would return to the field in a matter of weeks.

That timetable remains in place.

"You're looking at it differently than we're looking at it," Caldwell said. "We're looking at it for a reason. We have a little bit more information than you have, so we thought, obviously, the avenue in which we took is the appropriate one at this time."

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett. Download our free Lions Xtra app on your Apple and Android devices.



