National Football League

Notes: Ebron is better football player than fantasy player

Published Oct. 2, 2014 4:14 p.m. ET

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ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Detroit Lions rookie tight end Eric Ebron is a better football player than fantasy player.

Ebron admitted Thursday that he's been an avid fantasy leaguer for years and totally understands the fans' obsession.

"I picked it up in high school when we were in class, bored," Ebron said.

He's in a league this year with some of his teammates and is off to an 0-4 start with a team named "Ebron, Not LeBron."

"My first-round draft pick, unfortunately, did some things that he can't participate in football for," Ebron said, referring to Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. "It's hurting me to my heart.

"(Green Bay's) Aaron Rodgers is my quarterback. Bad mistake, I started him when he played us. I didn't expect that."

Rodgers was held to 162 yards passing and one touchdown two weeks ago by the Lions in the Packers' 19-7 loss in Detroit.

Asked how his defensive teammates responded to his decision to start Rodgers against them, Ebron said, "I told everybody (after the fact) so I should be all right."

Ebron also said he drafted himself in the final round. He benched himself for the first two weeks in favor of Dallas tight end Jason Witten, but activated himself for the last two games.

It paid off Sunday when Ebron, the 10th pick overall, caught his first touchdown pass in the NFL.

NOT SO UNDERRATED ANYMORE

If you didn't know much about Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy a year ago, don't feel too bad.

Neither did teammate Glover Quin when he first came to the Lions before last season.

"I didn't know anything about him," said Quin, who signed as a free agent in March 2013 after four years with the Houston Texans. "The first time I saw him in the weight room, I didn't know who he was.

"I just saw this guy, quiet, with a beard. He didn't look big like a linebacker. He didn't look like a DB (defensive back). I was like 'Is that a running back? Who is that guy?' I didn't know."

Levy, in his sixth year with the Lions, has emerged as one of the league's top linebackers in the last year.

On Thursday, he was named the NFC's Defensive Player of the Month for September after making 38 tackles, one interception and contributing to a safety in four games.

"He's a great player," said Quin, the Lions' starting free safety. "He deserves the recognition he's getting. He's a hard-working guy. He brings it on Sunday.

"I don't know what all he did before I got here, but since I've been here, as a witness, he's been bringing it."

Levy, a third-round draft pick by Detroit in 2009, is only the third Lion to be selected as the NFC's Defensive Player of the Month, joining cornerback Ray Crockett (November 1991) and linebacker Stephen Boyd (November 1998).

TIME TO MOVE OUT

Michigan native George Winn has been released by six teams, including the Lions, since entering the league as an undrafted running back coming out of the University of Cincinnati last year.

This week, he was promoted to a 53-man roster for the first time and likely will be active for the Lions Sunday against the Buffalo Bills if Joique Bell (concussion) is unavailable.

"I've jumped from team to team," said Winn, who was on the Lions' practice squad to start the season. "It makes the journey worth it."

Winn grew up in Southfield (Mich.) and played at University of Detroit Jesuit High School.

He's been living recently with his parents in their home in West Bloomfield, about a 30-minute drive from the Lions' training facility.

"Save on money, man," Winn said of living at home. "I didn't want to get caught up in a lease. I've actually got a whole floor to myself, a stove, living room, washer and dryer."

The more lucrative paychecks for making the main roster could change his living arrangements in the near future.

"Now I can consider moving out," Winn said, laughing.

MEGATRON INJURY UPDATE

Receiver Calvin Johnson (ankle), Bell and running back Theo Riddick (hamstring) missed practice again Thursday.

Johnson sat out Wednesday and Thursday last week, but then played on a limited basis in Sunday's game.

Cornerback Cassius Vaughn returned to practice for the first time since injuring an ankle in practice two weeks ago.

EXTRA POINTS

--- It was a costly season debut for safety James Ihedigbo, who was fined $16,000 by the league for unnecessary roughness on Jets quarterback Geno Smith. Ihedigbo missed the first three games because of a neck injury.

--- Ebron, on whether he's affected more by mental or physical fatigue: "It's more mentally. You start to get 'zombi-fied.' I don't even know if 'zombi-fied' is a word. It just rolled off my tongue at that point in time. You just turn into a zombie mentally. You're there physically. Your brain just stops."