By Moses Joshua 
Malcolm Rodriguez returns to the active roster, adding depth and experience to Detroit’s linebacker corps and special teams.
Rodriguez Returns After Long Road to Recovery
The Detroit Lions have officially activated Malcolm Rodriguez from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, marking the return of one of the team’s most dynamic and hard-hitting linebackers. Rodriguez, 26, has been back at practice for the past three weeks, with the Lions giving him the full 21-day window to fully regain his form.
Rodriguez has been sidelined since suffering an ACL injury against the Chicago Bears last November, making his return a major boost for Detroit’s defensive rotation and special teams.
Proven Playmaker on Defense and Special Teams
Since being selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Rodriguez has built a reputation as a downhill linebacker with a nose for the ball. He has excelled on special teams and has made a notable impact on defense. Last season, he recorded 43 tackles, two sacks, and two tackles for loss across 10 games and six starts. His most productive year came as a rookie with 87 tackles, including eight for loss, a forced fumble, and two pass deflections.
Rodriguez’s return comes to a team that has leaned heavily on its linebackers this season. Jack Campbell has been a near-constant presence, with Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes also contributing heavily. Depth pieces Trevor Nowaske, Grant Stuard, and Ty Summers have supplemented the rotation, but Rodriguez’s addition provides both stability and versatility.
“He’s a great player, or has been a very good player on teams, I’ll say that for sure,” Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said. “Anytime you get a good player back, that obviously helps the whole group. So, it’ll be good. The better player that’s out there, the less load everyone else has to carry. So, it helps pass the load or share the load around.”
Leadership, Mental Toughness, and Familiarity
Rodriguez is not only a proven run defender but also a player who fully understands the scheme and the personnel around him. Having spent his entire career under defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, Rodriguez’s familiarity with the system gives the Lions confidence in his immediate impact.
“To be honest with you, it’s the wrestling mentality. It goes back to his background, his upbringing,” Sheppard said. “He has phenomenal parents, phenomenal brothers, phenomenal family. And he was raised the right way. Mental toughness, you talk about grit, try wrestling, and try doing it for a minute, let alone a whole match. That mindset and mentality allow him to be able to persevere through everything.”
Sheppard added, “I’m always reminded, even last year (2023), before you guys all said it — Malcolm Rodriguez is a starter in my mind. And I have never wavered from that since his rookie year, when he took over and hit the scene running and took every veteran spot in the room until right now. He’s a starting-caliber linebacker, and now he’s ascending to a place where a lot of people are viewing him a on the topper end of linebackers of the league when you really watch him play.”
Impact Moving Forward
Rodriguez is expected to make an immediate contribution on special teams while gradually reintegrating into the linebacker rotation. His presence offers relief for starters who have been playing heavy snaps and provides the Lions with a versatile defender capable of making plays against both the run and the pass.
As Detroit continues its push toward the playoffs, the return of Malcolm Rodriguez signals a significant boost for both the defense and the overall team morale.