DeAndre Levy is dealing with his third injury in the 13 months since he signed a four-year, $33.7 million contract extension, but Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell insisted Friday that he's not worried about his star linebacker's recent injury history.
Levy missed his third straight practice Friday with a quadriceps injury and has played in parts of just two games since he signed his new contract in August 2015.
He's officially listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans, even though defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said Thursday that he expects Levy to play.
"He's been fine," Caldwell said before practice Friday. "He'll do well; he's a guy that will recover well. We'll see how he does. Let's talk about that at the end of the year."
Last year, Levy missed 15 games with a hip injury that eventually required surgery, and he opened training camp this year on the nonfootball injury list because of a knee problem.
Levy started and played all 70 defensive snaps in last weekend's season-opening win over the Indianapolis Colts.
The Lions have practiced this week with just four healthy linebackers: Starters Tahir Whitehead and Kyle Van Noy and backups Antwione Williams and Thurston Armbrister.
Williams, a rookie fifth-round pick out of Georgia Southern, likely will start at weakside linebacker if Levy can't play Sunday, and Van Noy will join Whitehead on the field in nickel packages.
The Lions also have linebacker Steve Longa on the practice squad if they need to make a roster move before Sunday's game.
Defensive end Ziggy Ansah, tight end Cole Wick (shoulder) and cornerback Adairius Barnes (ankle) returned to practice today after missing Thursday's workout. They are listed as questionable on the injury report.
Long snapper Jimmy Landes was on the field with his left arm in a sling, after apparently undergoing shoulder surgery.
Landes, a sixth-round pick out of Baylor, was placed on injured reserve earlier this year.
