Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez is out for the season with a torn ACL suffered in Thursday’s 23-20 win over the Chicago Bears.
The Lions have been devastated by injuries on defense. Rodriguez will be the fourth linebacker to hit injured reserve with a major injury in 2024 and Detroit is also without star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.
Derrick Barnes injured a knee in Week 3, when Rodriguez became a key part of the LB corps, and Alex Anzalone suffered a broken forearm in Week 11, pushing Rodriguez into a featured role in Detroit’s defense. Jalen Reeves-Maybin (neck) is also on IR.
Ezekiel Turner and Ben Niemann are options to join Jack Campbell in the starting lineup.
Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said the Lions have a room full of linebackers who deserve a shot on game day. That opportunity is now for what Glenn labeled his “next guy” when the Lions (11-1) host the Green Bay Packers (9-3) in a critical NFC North game next Thursday.
“All those guys have played, all those guys deserve to play, and each week we try to put them in packages so they can play,” Glenn said.
Defensive ends Marcus Davenport and John Cominsky are also on IR.
Anzalone could return for the playoffs or late in the regular season.
Rodriguez, 25, was a sixth-round pick in 2022. He had 27 tackles and two sacks in 10 games (six starts) this season.
