The Detroit Lions are finally getting some health on their side as they hit one of the tougher stretches of their 2025 regular season schedule.
With Terrion Arnold miraculously returning to practice a few weeks ago and D.J. Reed likely to return sometime next month from his hamstring injury, there's already room for optimism amongst Lions fans with regard to their embattled secondary. Now, the return of Malcolm Rodriguez is on the horizon, adding a nice punch to their defense overall.
Rodriguez, who went down with a torn ACL late last season, is set to be designated to return from the IR this week, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Schultz added to his report that Rodriguez is slated to return for the Lions' matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11. This is a huge game with postseason seeding implications in the NFC, so Rodriguez is returning at just the right time.
Eagles set to have their hands full vs. Rodriguez, Lions in Week 11
Rodriguez was an integral part of the Lions' defense in 2024, finishing up the year with two sacks and 43 total tackles through 10 games. A linebacker room that includes himself, Jack Campbell (leads the Lions with 34 solo tackles), and Alex Anzalone is one to fear. That's a big problem for an Eagles offense that is still seeking consistency with their offensive attack.
Jalen Hurts, who just led the Eagles to a Super Bowl win last year, has been solid so far with a QBR of 67.1 and a passer rating of 114.4. But, the team is towards the bottom of the standings in yards per game with 304.4, and under 200 passing yards per game. Despite Saquon Barkley holstered on their roster, they're also in the middle of the pack in rushing yards per game with 111.6 picked up on average.
READ MORE: 3 Lions players who should see the field more after the bye week
It's too soon to tell who will be available for Philadelphia by the time Week 11 rolls around, but A.J. Brown is currently dealing with a hamstring issue that could still be a problem by then. Additionally, Barkley has been managing a groin injury, and center Cam Jurgens is managing a knee injury. The Lions could be tumbling into this matchup as the healthier team - for once! - and that bodes well for their chances against the Eagles.