Hankins finished last weekend’s game with three tackles and a quarterback hit, a performance that included a third-and-1 stop and a tackle for loss, which is almost always the case for an interior linemen, for many Other crucial plays did not show up on the stat sheet, including several red zone running plays where he helped destroy him at the line of scrimmage before his teammates got there to make the tackle.

Through three games, Hankins has three tackles for loss, ranking second in the league among interior linemen behind Green Bay’s Devonte Wyatt, who has five tackles.

“There’s a reason you play in the league for 12 years,” Durde said. “He’s a constant professional, he goes through the process, he loves football, he loves the daily grind. It’s cool to see. You can see that he helps the young people.”

When asked about his tackles for loss, Hankins said: “I guess I just play for 12 years and understand what I get. For me it’s not really complicated, but I just play a little more aggressively and have a better feel of the defense and with T-Dot (linebacker Tyrel Dodson) behind me and I’m just trying to be effective and get to the guys out there help.”

With both Williams and Murphy out for Monday night’s game in Detroit, Hankins will again be asked to take on a larger role, especially against a physical, talented Lions offensive line that is responsible for one of the league’s best rushing attacks.