Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was forced to watch the Lions’ previous meeting with the Saints December 4 on television from his families home in Portland, Oregon as he served the first game of a league-mandated two-game suspension.

“For me it was obviously difficult, I obviously always want to be with my teammates, being able to support them,” Suh said Tuesday as he prepares to face the Saints for the first time this season. “I’m in a position now that I can really help them and I look forward to doing that and being a big part of this opportunity.”

Suh said that he treated the first game like a game-film session and certainly wasn’t watching it as a fan.

“I watched the game as a football player, so I’m watching the defenses and the offenses, seeing what they’re doing,” he said.