Questionable
Injury Knee - ACL
Est. Return 7/31/2025
2024 Defense Stats
TCKL
43
SACKS
2.0
INT
0
FF
0
TD
0
2025 Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Rodriguez will be forced to miss a portion of the upcoming season as he continues to recover from a torn ACL that he suffered in November. Prior to going down with the injury, the linebacker compiled 43 total tackles, including a career-high 2.0 sacks, while also adding a pass defense over 10 regular-season contests. With Derrick Barnes returning to action at outside linebacker after missing the team's final 14 regular-season contests and the postseason with a knee injury of his own, Rodriguez will remain in a reserve role in 2025. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a four-year, $3.85 million contract with the Lions in May of 2022.
Likely out for start of season
Rodriguez (knee) is unlikely to be ready for the start of the season, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The linebacker was placed on injured reserve last November after tearing his ACL in a win over the Bears. Detroit coach Dan Campbell offered a conservative estimate Thursday that Rodriguez could return by November, per Woodyard. The 2022 sixth-round pick is entering the final season of his four-year rookie deal, and while he started 15 games as a rookie, he has played more often in a backup and rotational role since then.
The linebacker was placed on injured reserve last November after tearing his ACL in a win over the Bears. Detroit coach Dan Campbell offered a conservative estimate Thursday that Rodriguez could return by November, per Woodyard. The 2022 sixth-round pick is entering the final season of his four-year rookie deal, and while he started 15 games as a rookie, he has played more often in a backup and rotational role since then.
NFL Stats
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2024 NFL Game Log
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2023
2022
2024 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
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#2 LOLB
Lions2024 Malcolm Rodriguez Split Stats
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2023 Fantasy Outlook
Commanding over half of the defensive snaps from Week 1 as a rookie, Rodriguez fared about as well as possible for a sixth-round draft pick last season. However, his game-by-game snap counts declined over the second half of the year, and the Lions not only signed Alex Anzalone to a significant extension this offseason, but they also spent a first-round pick on linebacker Jack Campbell. It remains to be seen how all of the pieces fit together, but Rodriguez figures to see a decent decline from his 554 defensive snaps in 2022.
More Fantasy News
Placed on injured reserve
The Lions placed Rodriguez (knee) on injured reserve Saturday.
ANALYSIS
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Tears ACL, out for season
Rodriguez had an MRI that revealed a torn ACL in his knee, and his season is over, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Injures knee Thursday
Rodriguez suffered a knee injury during Sunday's game against the Bears.
ANALYSIS
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Leads team in tackles
Rodriguez tallied eight tackles (seven solo) Sunday in Detroit's win over the Colts.
ANALYSIS
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Past ankle injury
Rodriguez (ankle) was a full practice participant Thursday.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Will miss rest of season
Rodriguez will miss the rest of the season with the torn ACL he suffered in Thursday's win over the Bears, ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Rodriguez started in six of his 10 appearances in 2024, recording 43 total tackles, including 2.0 sacks, a defensed pass and a fumble recovery. The third-year pro had been a steady contributor with at least five tackles in five games, and the news of his absence the rest of the way led the Lions to sign veteran Kwon Alexander from the Broncos' practice squad Friday.
Rodriguez started in six of his 10 appearances in 2024, recording 43 total tackles, including 2.0 sacks, a defensed pass and a fumble recovery. The third-year pro had been a steady contributor with at least five tackles in five games, and the news of his absence the rest of the way led the Lions to sign veteran Kwon Alexander from the Broncos' practice squad Friday.