The Sports Xchange

The Detroit Lions named linebacker DeAndre Levy their defensive captain for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals and he will make his season debut.

Levy missed the first four games of the season with a hip injury that he suffered on Aug. 24.

By naming Levy a game captain, Lions coach Jim Caldwell indicated Levy is healthy enough to play.

“I would assume you could probably make that assumption,” Caldwell said Friday.

Levy’s return is welcome news for a team looking for its first win after a 0-4 start.

“Obviously anytime you have a guy that has the kind of experience that he’s had, and the fine play he’s had through the years, that’s certainly a huge difference,” Caldwell said. “Every year is different, but he adds a huge boost to us. Against the run and the pass, he’s a factor.”

Levy, 28, only began practicing last week. He led the Lions with 151 tackles last year and tied for second in the NFL with six interceptions in 2013. He also led the NFL in solo tackles last season with 117.