DeAndre Levy, Marshawn Lynch Out For Seahawks-Lions MNF Matchup
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
In normal cases, a game that pitted running back Marshawn Lynch against linebacker DeAndre Levy would be a must-watch battle of forces.
But with neither playing in the Lions' and Seahawks' matchup on Monday Night Football, the game is a bit more of a toss-up.
Levy has yet to play in the regular season for Detroit this year, and has been out of practice since late August. He returned to practice on a limited basis on Thursday and Friday. But according to the Lions, Levy did not make the trip to Seattle this weekend, and was downgraded from "doubtful" to simply out of Monday's game.
As the team's leading tackler last season (and second in the league), Levy could have been an important cog in the Detroit defense charged with containing the guy nicknamed "Beast Mode."
But Lynch is having his own injury concerns, thanks to a hamstring tweak. He's been downgraded to out of the game, as well. In Lynch's place will most likely be Seattle rookie Thomas Rawls, who rushed 16 times for 104 yards last week against the Bears.
And Detroit linebacker Josh Bynes will continue filling in for Levy, as he's done since the beginning of the regular season.
"I think he's been very good for us in terms of the duties that he handles and what he does," Caldwell said of Bynes. "He obviously plays with a lot of effort and he's been one of those guys that will knock the ball loose and give you some opportunities and he keeps getting better. When you're doing those kinds of things, you'll find yourself on the field a little bit more often."
On the other side of the ball for the Lions, both starting running back Joique Bell, as well as tight end Brandon Pettigrew, are out against the Seahawks, too. Backup running backs Ameer Abdullah and Zach Zenner could see increased roles in the offense thanks to Bell's absence.