This season, the Detroit Lions' defense keeps coming up with goals. In addition to losing starters like Aidan Hutchinson and Alex Anzalone, this linebacker was also confirmed today Malcolm Rodriguez tore his ACL. The injury occurred Thursday against the Chicago Bears and will be a season-ending injury for Rodriguez.
Rodriguez had earned a larger role in the Lions' defense due to injuries to linebackers Derrick Barnes and Alex Anzalone. This season, Rodriguez played in 10 games and started 6 games for the Lions' defense. This led to him recording 43 tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks.
With Rodriguez out for the remainder of the season, the Lions will have to stay creative on defense. Most likely we will see them use more linebackers like David Long Jr. and Ezekiel Turner. Additionally, it was announced today that the Lions have signed linebacker Kwon Alexander.
Before signing with the Lions, Alexander was on the Denver Broncos practice squad for most of this season. However, he has played in three games with two starts for the Broncos this season.
Last season with the Steelers, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 10 against the Packers, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season. Luckily, he found his way back onto the field with the Broncos this season. His last start was in Week 9 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Overall, Alexander is an experienced defender who was selected in the fourth round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2015 NFL Draft. In his career, he has appeared in 107 career games with 90 career starts between the Buccaneers, Saints, 49ers, Steelers, Jets and Broncos. The hope is that he can help bring some consistency to the Lions' defense, which is in desperate need of experience and talent after all the injuries this season.
