Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, who re-signed with the Lions on Monday, has an opportunity to earn a starting role in Detroit's defense for the first time since his rookie season.
Veteran Alex Anzalone signed with Tampa Bay in free agency which leaves an open starting spot at WILL linebacker in Detroit's base defense.
"It's a big opportunity," Rodriguez said Monday at the Meijer Performance Center. "Excited for Alex and his family, I know it's close to home for him. It's just one of those things, I'm just going to come in and have the same mentality I had when I first got here. It's always about competition and put my best foot forward and see where it goes."
A sixth-round draft pick in 2022, Rodriguez earned a starting job as a rookie and produced 87 tackles in 16 games. He's served a mostly reserve and special teams role the last three seasons following the addition of Jack Campbell to the linebacker room in 2023, but Rodriguez has made seven spot starts over that stretch.
In 2024 while filling in for an injured Anzalone, Rodriguez suffered a torn ACL that ultimately sidelined him nearly an entire year. He returned Nov. 23 of last season and played in Detroit's final seven games with one start at the WILL spot the final week of the season in place of the injured Anzalone. He recorded four tackles and a tackle for loss in Detroit's win over Chicago.
Rodriguez said Monday he dealt with stiffness in the knee when he first returned after a long rehab process, but said the knee feels back to normal now and he's looking forward to an offseason to just work on his craft and not rehab an injury.
Kelvin Sheppard was Rodriguez's position coach his first three seasons in the league before being promoted to defensive coordinator last season. Sheppard knows better than anyone how Rodriguez's skillset might fit in a starting role in his defense.
"We started off with him in that room, and he's seen it from Day 1," Rodriguez said. "It's one of those things, where just to have that confidence in me as a player, I just want to play hard for him and my family and prove him right."
View photos of Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez.
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) in action during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Rodney Baylor/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) sacks Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 30, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 20, 2024 in Minneapolis. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 17, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 24, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Re-signing Rodriguez gives the Lions another experienced veteran in the linebacker room and a player hungry to reclaim a larger defensive role.
"It's one of those things where becoming fully healthy, it'll be nice to see me out there doing my thing," Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez has played in 50 games with 25 starts over his first four seasons in the league logging 163 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and two forced fumbles.
