Levens Likely to Play Despite Injury

Green Bay Packer running back Dorsey Levens probably will play Sunday against Detroit despite aggravating his sprained left ankle in last week’s loss to Chicago.

Levens, 30, left midway through the fourth quarter of the 27-24 loss because of pain in the ankle. The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder rushed 11 times for 24 yards and caught five passes for 41 yards before coming out of the game.

The Packers (2-3) visit the Lions (3-2) in an NFC Central matchup Sunday.

“I’m fairly certain that he’ll play in this game,” Packer Coach Mike Sherman said. “I don’t think he’ll be a whole lot worse than he was last week.”

Levens missed two games this season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee during the exhibition season. He has gained 140 yards on 52 carries and has eight catches for 75 yards but hasn’t scored a touchdown.

Sherman also said that starting defensive end Vonnie Holliday, who missed last week’s game because of a hamstring strain, probably will miss the next three weeks. Sherman said he hopes to have Holliday back for the Packers’ road game against Miami on Oct. 29, which comes after a bye week.

“He’s made tremendous strides since the injury, but I don’t anticipate him back until after the bye,” Sherman said.

Holliday, 24, has 15 tackles and one interception in four games this season. He led all Packer defensive linemen with 67 tackles last season and was second on the team with six sacks. Cletidus Hunt started last week in his absence.