The Detroit Lions faced another setback during their Thanksgiving Day win against the Chicago Bears as linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez suffered a knee injury. The injury occurred late in the game, adding to the growing list of concerns for the Lions’ defense. With multiple key players already sidelined, Rodriguez’s status moving forward remains uncertain.

In this article, we will delve into the details of Malcolm Rodriguez’s injury.

What happened to Malcolm Rodriguez?

Malcolm Rodriguez’s knee injury adds to the growing list of setbacks for the Detroit Lions defense following their 23-20 Thanksgiving Day victory over the Chicago Bears. The linebacker was injured in the fourth quarter of the game when he appeared to hurt his right knee. Although he was able to walk off the field on his own, Rodriguez did not return. His injury has raised concerns among the coaching staff. Lions head coach Dan Campbell noted that while the team dealt with multiple injuries to key defensive players, Rodriguez’s situation seemed the most worrisome.

Campbell said, “I feel like it’ll be okay. It could be a little bit. It may, they could be down for a little bit. I’ll be honest with you, I think Rodrigo’s the one that could be the worst. I don’t know how significant it’ll be just yet, but he’s the one I fear, a little bit, could be down.” (via WLNS) Alongside Rodriguez, defensive linemen Josh Paschal and Levi Onwuzurike also exited the game with injuries, further taxing an already thin defensive lineup.

Rodriguez has been stepping in as a key linebacker for Detroit, filling in for Derrick Barnes and Alex Anzalone. The Lions have had to rely on backup players like Trevor Nowaske, Ben Niemann, and Ezekiel Turner to step up in these crucial roles. 

Despite the mounting injuries, Detroit has continued to perform, with an impressive 11-1 record this NFL season.