Allen Park — Oftentimes, a season-ending injury is viewed as one-year hiccup, a limited disruption with, at most, a 12-month expiration date.
It’s true for some. Pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson broke his leg against the Dallas Cowboys in October 2024 and returned for the following season’s opener in September, and he posted a career-high 14½ sacks in his first season back.
But it’s not true for all. Defensive tackle Alim McNeill, who tore his ACL against the Buffalo Bills in December 2024, is a prime example. McNeill simply wasn’t himself after getting back on the field last season, finishing with two or fewer pressures in six of his 10 appearances.
Malcolm Rodriguez suffered the same injury as McNeill, tearing his ACL in a win over the Chicago Bears 17 days before his teammate went down. Rodriguez returned versus the New York Giants in Week 12 last season but struggled to make an impact defensively down the stretch, playing only 72 snaps and allowing nine receptions on 11 targets for 85 yards and a touchdown, according to Pro Football Focus. His passer rating against (129.2) was the worst of his career, as was his 28.6% missed-tackle rate.
There were 125 linebackers who were on the field for at least 70 snaps during the regular season in 2025. Rodriguez, who has provided the Lions with valuable depth at linebacker since being drafted in 2022, ranked last among those players with an overall defensive grade from PFF of 28.4. For context, Rodriguez played 318 defensive snaps in 2024 and settled at 74.4, placing him 22nd among 137 linebackers.
“I’ve had an ACL myself,” Lions linebackers coach Shaun Dion Hamilton said. “It’s always that first year, it’s kind of like, ‘Ah.’ But now he’s moving around great, he’s feeling great. I think that also, I was telling (defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard), it’s great that he got a full offseason to be in Shep’s defense rather than (Aaron Glenn’s), with some of the changes and stuff like that.
“So, I’m excited where he is. I can’t wait to see him in training camp.”
The Lions lost a key piece of their linebacking corps this offseason, with Alex Anzalone leaving for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a two-year deal worth $17 million. Jack Campbell established himself as one of the NFL’s top off-ball linebackers in the middle of Detroit’s defense last year, and Derrick Barnes is likely to remain as the team’s starter on the strong side. That leaves an opening to be filled on the weak side of the formation, where Anzalone played.
Rodriguez is in the driver’s seat to get the nod on the weak side when the Lions roll out three-linebacker packages, which they did more than any other team in 2025, though rookie Jimmy Rolder and a number of veterans like Damone Clark, Trevor Nowaske and Joe Bachie will push for opportunties.
“With a player like Malcolm, we’re trying to spend less time on the ‘What,’ because he’s a more advanced, developed veteran,” defensive assistant David Corrao said. “Now, he gets to worry about the ‘How.’ … What’s my reaction? Did I key this right? Did I get to the right lineup? All the little nuanced details that speed a player up when they’re no longer thinking about that.”
Because of his experience, Rodriguez, entering his fifth season in Detroit, has a leg up on the competition.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Malcolm Rodriguez, with chance to start for Lions, ‘feeling great’
Reporting by Richard Silva, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Richard Silva, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
