Ebron, Tate among 9 Lions sitting out practice

Allen Park — The Detroit Lions were a little more banged up than usual during Sunday's practice. The team was down nine players for the session, including two offensive tackles and three defensive backs.

Sitting out were tight end Eric Ebron, wide receiver Golden Tate, safeties Don Carey and Isaiah Johnson, center Graham Glasgow, cornerback Crezdon Butler, linebacker Jon Bostic and offensive tackles Corey Robinson and Michael Ola.

Ebron has now been sidelined for more than two weeks with a leg injury suffered during the team's mock game at Ford Field on Aug. 6. He was able to do some light work after Sunday's practice on the JUGS machine.

Tate was out for the second straight day, but did some light jogging on the side with Carey and Butler, suggesting all three should be back soon.

Ola suffered a leg injury during the team's Aug. 15 practice and hasn't even joined his teammates on the sidelines in recent days. When asked if the issue could keep the offensive tackle out of the lineup for an extended period, coach Jim Caldwell simply responded, "We'll see."

But it wasn't all bad news for the Lions. Linebacker DeAndre Levy took another step toward being game ready, participating in team drills for the first time since mandatory minicamp in June.

Levy, who essentially missed the entire 2015 season after finishing second in the NFL with 151 tackles the season before, is expected to be ready for the Lions' regular-season opener against the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 11. He opened training camp on the physically unable to perform list and was only activated by the team on Tuesday.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @justin_rogers