Despite their injury-riddled 2024 season having come to an end, the Detroit Lions continue to deal with the fallout from the injuries that piled up.
They've already revealed that they aren't expecting defensive tackle Alim McNeill to be ready for the start of the 2025 season.
Now the team has added another important piece of their defense to the list of players who won't be available to start the season, but this player will be out much longer.
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez pushing Anthony Richardson out of bounds
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez
Grace Hollars/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
While speaking to the media at OTAs, head coach Dan Campbell revealed the linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez is expected to be out until November as he continues to work his way back from the ACL injury that ended his 2024 season.
Rodriguez got out to an unexpectedly fast start to his NFL career after the Lions drafted him in the sixth round of the 2022 draft.
He started 15 games as a rookie and made 87 tackles with eight for a loss.
Then he took a step back in year two. His playing took a big hit in 2023 and he was only able to record 21 total tackles.
Then he began to get back on track this past season. He had 43 tackles in 10 games with a pair of sacks.
The injury that ended his 2024 season come late in November, so it looks like he is expected to return somewhere around a year after suffering the injury.
The Lions recently signed Zach Cunningham as depth at linebacker in a move that was likely inspired by their belief that Rodriguez will be unavailable for an extended period of time.
When he has fully bounced back from his injury, Rodriguez will return to being an important piece of the Lions' defense, but until then the Lions will have to navigate another key absence on the defensive side of the ball.