National Football League

Leshoure starts at RB for Lions with S Delmas out

Published Sep. 23, 2012 12:51 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Detroit Lions are starting Mikel Leshoure at running back against the Tennessee Titans in his first NFL game after a torn left Achilles tendon wiped out his rookie season and a two-game suspension delayed his second.

Leshoure was a second-round draft pick out of Illinois in 2011, and he is starting Sunday instead of Kevin Smith.

The Lions also scratched safety Louis Delmas for a second straight game because of a knee injury, with John Wendling starting. Tight end Tony Scheffler is inactive with a calf injury.

The winless Titans made a lineup change, starting veteran Jordan Babineaux at safety over Robert Johnson, who started the first two games. Linebacker Colin McCarthy is inactive with a right ankle injury along with running back Javon Ringer.