L ion linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez sidelined with knee injury, expected to return in November.
Detroit Lions' Malcolm Rodriguez Out Until November, truth be told
Hang on to your tummies, Lions fans! Our boy Malcolm Rodriguez, the fearless linebacker, ain't stepping onto the field until the brisk winds of November, coach Dan Campbell confirmed on Thursday.
"Sorry for the bummer, but he ain't gonna light up the season opener," Campbell said when asked about Rod's comeback timeline, recalling Rod's cruel right ACL tear in last year's Thanksgiving game.
"So, conservatively? Picture November. ... Yep, that's the deal. Picture November. Somewhere in there," Campbell added, turning our hopes into autumn leaves.
Rodriguez, a 26-year-old wrecking ball, racked up 43 tackles and 2.0 sacks in just 10 games (six starts) last season before taking a season-ender against rivals, the Bears.
Drafted in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the kid's got guts. Over his 43-game career (24 starts) for the Lions, Rodriguez's got 151 tackles, 3.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries under his belt. Damn impressive, if you ask us.
But don't start holding your breath just yet. While we're hopeful, Coach Dan's prediction puts Rod's potential return against the Vikings, Commanders, Eagles, Giants, or Packers. So, let's cheer for those lads while keeping our fingers crossed for our warrior Rodriguez!
-Straight Talkin' Sports Buff
*Notes: - After tearing his ACL, Rodriguez can expect to recover and return to action around November 2025 [source: 1, 2, 3]. - Rodriguez has shown great promise in his career with the Lions, particularly stepping up after Derrick Barnes' injury [2, 3].
References:[1] Field Level Media[2] Bleacher Report[3] USA Today
While Malcolm Rodriguez is expected to recover in November as stated by Coach Dan Campbell, the Detroit Lions linebacker's injury from last year's Thanksgiving game will keep him out of the season opener. If history repeats itself, Rodriguez might return against teams like the Vikings, Commanders, Eagles, Giants, or Packers, though it's not confirm yet. As he continues his recovery, fans can reflect on Rodriguez's impressive career statistics in American Football, particularly in the NFL, where he has shown great potential in just over 40 games for the Lions.
