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ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions are closer to getting their best defensive player back as outside linebacker DeAndre Levy returned to practice Thursday. Levy has missed the first three weeks of the regular season and the last two weeks of the preseason after suffering a hip injury in practice.  He said Sunday the hip was still a "small, little irritant" and that pain was the main thing keeping him from seeing the field. The Lions could use Levy to help bolster a defense that is ranked 27th in the NFL and has struggled defending the pass. Levy, who signed a four-year extension in the offseason, is considered one of the top coverage linebackers in the NFL. "Obviously, he's an outstanding player," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. "Any time you get a guy back with that kind of experience and those kinds of things, it's going to help you, there's no question about that." The Lions have used a combination of Josh Bynes and Tahir Whitehead in Levy's absence based on packages. Levy led the NFL in solo tackles last season with 117 and was second in the league in total tackles with 151. While the Lions did have Levy back at practice, three starters missed the open portion of practice: defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, running back Joique Bell and tight end Brandon Pettigrew. Ansah injured his groin against Denver, and Pettigrew has missed the past two weeks with a hamstring injury. Bell's injury is unknown, but he missed the preseason recovering from knee and Achilles injuries.
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