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Jim Caldwell unsure if A'Shawn Robinson will be able to play against Packers

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell said Monday he does not know if defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson will be available to play next Monday night when the Lions face the Green Bay Packers after Robinson was ejected from Sunday’s game against the Steelers for throwing a punch.

Robinson threw punches at Pittsburgh offensive lineman Ramon Foster while in the middle of a scrum on the second-to-last play of the game during the Steelers’ 20-15 win over Detroit. He appeared to throw two quick punches at Foster’s helmet before being pulled away by teammates.

On Sunday night, Caldwell said he did not see what had happened. By Monday afternoon, Caldwell said he did not condone what Robinson did -- or Jeremiah Valoaga, Cornelius Washington or D.J. Hayden running onto the field following the play to help break up the confrontation.

“Yeah, when you’re wrong, you’re wrong,” Caldwell said. “Obviously he’s penalized, ejected from the game. So that’s an issue. And like I said, there’s three guys that ran out onto the field, that’s an issue. Those are the things we’ve got to address.

“We’re not going to stand for it. It’s not one of the things that we want to be known for. We want to play this game the way it’s supposed to played and losing your poise is not one of those things. We’ll handle it in-house and certainly the league may have something to say about it, as well.”

When asked specifically if those four players will be able to play against the Packers, Caldwell said “I don’t know that.”

If the Lions were to lose some or all of those players against the Packers, it would severely hurt Detroit’s defensive line depth. Robinson is the Lions’ best interior lineman with Haloti Ngata out for the season. Washington and Valoaga are the Nos. 3 and 4 defensive ends on the roster. Hayden splits time at cornerback with Nevin Lawson opposite Darius Slay.