PUP-R
Injury Knee - ACL
Est. Return 10/5/2025
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
Will miss at least four games
Rodriguez (knee) was placed on the reserve/PUP list Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
Rodriguez played 10 games (six starts) and produced 43 tackles (27 solo) and 2.0 sacks last season before his season ended due to a torn ACL in late November. The 2022 second-round pick should be back in action by this November if he avoids any setbacks, and his earliest chance to play will be Week 5 versus the Bengals. He likely won't start once he returns, as Derrick Barnes and Alex Anzalone should have those outside linebacker roles locked up.
Rodriguez played 10 games (six starts) and produced 43 tackles (27 solo) and 2.0 sacks last season before his season ended due to a torn ACL in late November. The 2022 second-round pick should be back in action by this November if he avoids any setbacks, and his earliest chance to play will be Week 5 versus the Bengals. He likely won't start once he returns, as Derrick Barnes and Alex Anzalone should have those outside linebacker roles locked up.
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
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2024 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
Heads to active/PUP list
Rodriguez (knee) was placed on the active/PUP list by the Lions on Thursday.
ANALYSIS
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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
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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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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.