ALLEN PARK — Linebacker Cody Spencer was placed on injured reserve today, ending his season.
  Spencer, a five-year NFL veteran who signed with the Lions as a free agent in March, tore an ACL during Saturday’s preseason opening win.
“It’s disappointing for him. He’s a guy who has been around the league a little bit, he’s had a good run and he was fitting in well with what we wanted him to do,’’ coach Jim Schwartz said. “He’s strong, gave us a little different dimension at linebacker. So it’s disappointing to lose him — No. 1 from a personal standpoint for him, No. 2 from a team standpoint.’’
   Without Spencer, rookie Deandre Levy (third-round pick out of Wisconsin) should get more opportunity to prove himself.
   “Deandre has done a nice job of being physical in camp and doing the physical things. His biggest challenge is, just like all rookies, is being good with the scheme, not just good with the scheme in the meeting room or out here in practice, but when the real stuff starts happening -- when the other team is a different color -- all of a sudden it becomes a little bit harder to try to get through. That’s his challenge,’’ Schwartz said.
— PAULA PASCHE