The Detroit Lions were among the four teams idle on Sunday, enjoying their Week 8 bye. The break arrived at an ideal time for Detroit, as the defense had been dealing with several injuries and was forced to rely on practice squad players in the secondary to secure their Week 7 victory.

As the team returns to the practice facility this week, they received excellent news concerning veteran linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Detroit has designated Rodriguez to return from injured reserve, and he’s set to resume practicing this week.

Schultz also reported that the Lions anticipate Rodriguez will make his regular-season return during their Week 11 Sunday Night Football matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Lions Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez Reportedly Targeting Week 11 Return

For Lions fans, this development is encouraging, as Rodriguez is a crucial piece of the defense and a standout on special teams.

Before suffering a torn ACL last November, Rodriguez had been performing well. He appeared in 10 games, starting six, and recorded 43 total tackles, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, two sacks, a pass breakup, and a fumble recovery.

While he did allow 16 receptions for 103 yards on 19 targets last season, Rodriguez limited opponents to just 6.4 yards per catch and held an 89.3 passer rating when targeted — both career-best marks.

His impact on special teams has also made him a favorite among Lions fans. Detroit already has solid contributors in Ty Summers, Grant Stuard, and Trevor Nowaske, though Zach Cunningham was recently placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.

Special teams units may not always draw attention, but they play a vital role in a team’s success. With Rodriguez nearing a return, the Lions can look forward to a valuable boost to both their defense and special teams in the coming weeks.