Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press

HOUSTON -- DeAndre Levy and Lavonte David were dominant enough during a two-year stretch earlier this decade that former Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew considered proposing a change to Pro Bowl rosters to require that one of the all-star teams plays a traditional 4-3 defense.

While Levy’s production has fallen off because of injuries the last two years, David, a 2017 Pro Bowl alternate, said last week that he still believes that the Lions linebacker can return to top form.

“Yeah, of course,” David said while making the rounds on radio row at Super Bowl LI. “Injuries are part of the game. He’s one of those guys who I truly believe that can overcome, because his natural ability helps him out a lot. So all he’s got to do is get healthy, and I’m sure he’ll get back to his natural state.”

Levy and David finished 2-3 in the NFL in tackles in 2014, and Levy tied for second in the league in interceptions a year earlier. Both players were Pro Bowl snubs those seasons, as voting skews heavily toward pass-rushing outside linebackers.

David did make his first Pro Bowl in 2015, but Levy has played just six of a possible 32 regular-season games the last two years. He played just one game before undergoing hip surgery in 2015, and this season, Levy missed 11 straight games while recovering from knee surgery.

Levy wasn’t his usual impactful self when he returned late in the season, making just 21 tackles in five games. But David said Levy is still a sideline-to-sideline player who’s “one of the best all-around linebackers in the game.”

“Great, great player,” David said. “Got great instincts. Fast. Plays hard. For a guy at the linebacker position, that’s the main thing you look for: people who play hard. And he’s one of those guys that always stands out.”

Quinn thinks Levy can be as good as he was in 2014

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

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