By Moses Joshua 
Detroit Bolsters Linebacker Corps as Malcolm Rodriguez Cleared for Return
A Timely Boost for a Defense in Need
The Detroit Lions finally received the kind of news every team hopes for in the heart of the regular season: a key defender is back. On Tuesday afternoon, Detroit officially activated linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, making the 26-year-old eligible to play this Sunday when the Lions welcome the New York Giants to Ford Field.
For a team battling injuries across multiple levels of the defense, Rodriguez’s return couldn’t be better timed — and it instantly reshapes the linebacker room.
Rodriguez’s Long Journey Back
Rodriguez hasn’t taken an NFL snap since suffering a torn ACL last Thanksgiving during a matchup against the Chicago Bears. The injury ended his 2024 season on the spot and forced him to spend the first half of the 2025 campaign grinding through rehab.
Many expected Detroit to activate him ahead of last week’s showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles, especially with the defense stretched thin. But the Lions chose patience, granting Rodriguez the full recovery window and ensuring he returned without setback. Now, the wait is over — and he’s officially back in the rotation.
What His Return Means for Detroit
Rodriguez’s game has always been built on speed, sharp instincts, and relentless effort, traits that made him a fan favorite and a reliable defensive presence when healthy. Even if he doesn’t immediately jump into a full defensive workload, his activation has several immediate benefits:
- Added depth to a linebacker group that has been logging heavy snaps
- Special teams reinforcement, where Rodriguez has consistently excelled
- Personnel flexibility, giving defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard more options in critical situations
With a challenging stretch of games ahead, Detroit simply needs as many capable bodies as possible — and Rodriguez brings proven value the moment he steps back onto the field.
A Quiet but Meaningful Win for Week 12
Head coach Dan Campbell now has the option to ease Rodriguez in or accelerate his usage depending on how the week progresses. Either way, the Lions are undeniably stronger today than they were a week ago.
Rodriguez is back.
And with that, Detroit gets a timely reinforcement as it prepares for a pivotal Week 12 matchup.