Lions linebacker Ernie Sims suffered a shoulder injury Sunday against Minnesota that might sideline him. If so, second-year linebacker Jordon Dizon or rookie DeAndre Levy could step in for the hard-hitting bulwark on the outside.

Unofficially, Dizon, a Waimea product, is listed as Sims’ backup, and Levy is listed as Larry Foote’s backup at middle linebacker. Dizon and Levy received accolades from the coaching staff during the off-season.
If Sims can’t play Sunday against Washington, much of the jockeying for the starting role between Dizon and Levy will be determined in practice this week.
Dizon said players always are ready to step in for a starter because of the regularity of injuries.
“In this league,” he said, “the chances of you getting hurt are pretty much 100%, and there’s people behind you that step up and have to step up and do the same job you did. In terms of Ernie, one of us is going to have to step up and assume the role he did, and we’re going to have to play just like he did. It’s big shoes to fill, but we’re going to have to do it.”
Foote, 29, is in his eighth season and sees the potential loss of Sims as an opportunity for Dizon and Levy to prove themselves.
“We’ve got young guys,” Foote said. “We’ve got guys that have got to step up. I didn’t come into this league as a starter. I was a backup and had to prove myself. You’ve got to have guys that make up a good team. When guys go down, guys have got to fill in and don’t miss a beat.”