ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions hope the worst of DeAndre Levys injury problems are behind him.Levy was removed from the active/non-football injury list before practice Tuesday, and he was able to participate, although its not clear how much the Lions will play the linebacker during the preseason.Levy missed almost all of last season because of hip problems, and he has not shared the details of the injury thats kept him out for some of training camp this year.I expect to be ready to roll Week 1, he said.Levy had a career-high 151 tackles (117 solo) during the 2014 season, a performance that earned him a contract extension last August. He has started 83 games for Detroit since being drafted by the Lions in the third round in 2009.But he played only one game last season, and his more recent injury issues interrupted his preparation for the Sept. 11 opener at Indianapolis.Im a new face out there right now, Levy said.Coach Jim Caldwell said hell have to wait and see how Levy progresses -- he did not specify any sort of plan for how much Levy might play in preseason games. Detroit hosts Cincinnati on Thursday night.Levy said hed like to get some live reps -- but Caldwell said theres not that much urgency for the veteran to play in exhibition games.Its not a necessity. Its not like it has to happen, Caldwell said. Well just kind of see where he is from a health standpoint.The Detroit coach did say that Levys attitude and desire to play was to be expected.Usually those guys that are really intrinsically motivated, I mean, you have that problem all the time, Caldwell said. Its a good problem to have.Even if hes healthy again, the 29-year-old Levy has to show he can still be as effective as he was a couple of years ago. Its not clear how much rust will be a factor for him in the weeks ahead.Guys that have played as much football as he has, you know oftentimes they catch on rather quickly, Caldwell said. He never really gets away from it to be honest with you. He kind of keeps his head in there all the time, so well see.Although Levy said little about his return during a brief chat with reporters, sticking to short answers, the Lions can certainly be encouraged by the prospect of having him available again.It was great to see him back out there working, cornerback Darius Slay said. Hes a tackling machine. He covers a lot of ground for everybody.Game notes Caldwell said there should be no pressure on rookie QB Jake Rudock to throw deeper passes. Rudock acquitted himself well in Detroits preseason opener, going 8 of 11 for 72 yards and a touchdown against Pittsburgh last week. Theres a progression, particularly in most pass plays. Theres a deep component, theres an intermediate component, theres a short component to it, Caldwell said. Rather than forcing something up the field, if he looks at it and thinks hes got it, he can take it. If not, he just kind of works with his progression.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Billy McKinney Blue Jays Jersey . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. Clay Buchholz Blue Jays Jersey . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-joe-carter-jersey/ . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. Eric Sogard Blue Jays Jersey . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. Custom Toronto Blue Jays .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem.New Zealand made a quick start in their bid for a third straight Rugby Sevens World Series triumph, winning both of their matches on the opening day of the Las Vegas Sevens on Friday. New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Kenya and Argentina all won both of their opening day matches, but reigning series champions Fiji were stunned by Samoa in their opening contest.Savelio Ropatis late try lifted Samoa to a dramatic 28-24 victory over their Pacific rivals, who rebounded with a comfortable 42-12 win over France. Englands day got off to a rocky start as they had to battle back from a 19-5 deficit to salvage a 19-19 draw with Japan.Two tries in the final two minutes, the second converted by Tom Mitchell, gained the draw, but in Englands second match - the last of the day - Joe Nayacavou sealed a superb win for Scotland with a try on the last play of a 24-14 victory that knocked England out of the running for the Cup. England needed a last-minute Philip Burgess try and Tom Mitchell conversion to salvage a draw against Japan New Zealand, whose victories at Wellington and Sydney in the last two stops in the series pulled them level with Fiji and South Africa at the top of the standings, opened the tournament at Sam Boyd Stadium with a 42-7 victory over Portugal.They followed up with a 38-0 win over Russia and in their final Pool A match, they will take on Kenya, who also went two-for-two on Friday, as did Australia in Pool B, Argentina in Pool C and South Africa in Pool D.Bryan Habana, South Africas leading try-scorer in Tests with 64, returneed to Sevens after a 12-year hiatus as South Africa notched victories over Canada and Wales.dddddddddddd Bryan Habana scored his first World Rugby Sevens try with his first touch Australia opened their campaign with a 26-0 rout of Scotland that included the Sevens debut of Quade Cooper.Cooper, 27, came on as a substitute in the final five minutes against Scotland and struggled at first to adjust to the rhythm of the seven-a-side format.However, he contributed four conversions in a 35-5 victory over Japan.The United States opened with a 19-12 victory over Wales, but wasted a 12-point lead in a sloppy 26-26 draw with Canada. DJ Forbes of New Zealand carries the ball against Portugal during the Las Vegas Sevens The Las Vegas tournament is the fifth stop in the 10-event series, which is even more in the spotlight this year with rugby making a return to the Olympics at Rio de Janeiro in August.Fridays action drew a crowd of 18,441 - a record USA Sevens one-day attendance.Pool play continues on Saturday before the event concludes on Sunday.Watch coverage of the Las Vegas Sevens on Sky Sports 3 HD from 7.20pm on Saturday. Also See: Rugby on Sky Follow @SkySportsRugby Pundits Fixtures and results ' ' '