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Detroit Lions LB plans: David Long signed, Malcolm Rodriguez to take on bigger role
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- Detroit Lions LB plans: David Long signed, Malcolm Rodriguez to take on bigger role
The Detroit Lions will take the committee approach to their third linebacker spot after losing captain Alex Anzalone likely for the rest of the regular season to a broken forearm.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said Jack Campbell and Malcolm Rodriguez will play the bulk of the linebacker snaps in Anzalone's absence, and the third linebacker will be determined by opponent and game situation.
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"So much of it is about who we're playing," Dan Campbell said. "(Anthony) Richardson's a running quarterback and they're using him a lot more in that regard, and so do you want to go nickel? Do you want to go base? Do we need three linebackers? We have to answer all of these things."
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) stops Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson (2) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.
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Jack Campbell leads the Lions with 78 tackles through 10 games and wore the green-dot defensive communication helmet after Anzalone was injured late in the third quarter of Sunday's 52-6 blowout win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Rodriguez, who opened the season as the Lions' fourth linebacker after starting 15 games as a rookie in 2022, moved into the starting lineup after Derrick Barnes tore his MCL in late September.
Rodriguez played rotationally as the Lions' third linebacker most of the past six games, with Trevor Nowaske , Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Ben Niemann playing backup roles. Reeves-Maybin hurt his shoulder and is on injured reserve, and the Lions signed veteran linebacker David Long to the practice squad Monday.
Long had 38 tackles in six starts with the Miami Dolphins this year but lost his starting job earlier this month and was waived last week.
Dan Campbell said Rodriguez "gives us a lot of flexibility" after missing two games with an ankle injury earlier this year.
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"It's good to get Rodrigo back," Dan Campbell said. "He can play the (weak side), he can play the (strong side) out in space, he's been playing kind of that big nickel, and so having him back it does, it relieves a lot of pressure there. And I thought, there again, I thought he played really well yesterday. He's got a nose for the football, he's aggressive and he just, he has production back there so it's big getting him back."
Safety setback
The Lions activated Ifeatu Melifonwu from injured reserve Monday, but Campbell said the fourth-year safety won't make his season debut for some time after suffering a new injury last week.
"He's not going to be ready for a while," Campbell said.
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Melifonwu had three sacks and two interceptions in six late-season starts for the Lions last season. He was expected to compete for a starting job this fall, but underwent treatment for an Achilles injury late in training camp and was placed on injured reserve Sept. 28.
Lions safety Ifeatu Melifonwu celebrates after he intercepted a pass against the Vikings late in the fourth quarter of the Lions' 30-24 win on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, in Minneapolis, to clinch the NFC North Division.
All the fixin's
Campbell said Sunday the Lions' win over the Jaguars was their most complete game since he took over as head coach in 2021. But he still found plenty to nitpick about the performance in film review Monday.
"There's stuff to clean up and if I told you we had one where if his split is a yard wider, it should be that, it's a touchdown. Or if I block the right guy, it's a touchdown as opposed to, whatever, 6-yard gain," Campbell said. "Those came up and defensively, we were out of position on some things, but it didn't bite us. We were fortunate and you don't have that luxury if you're playing ( Buffalo Bills quarterback) Josh Allen or ( Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick) Mahomes , they're going to find it. So those are things that we have to clean up."
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The Lions scored touchdowns on their first seven possessions Sunday and held the Jaguars scoreless in the second half.
They face Anthony Richardson and the Indianapolis Colts (5-6) this week at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Dave Birkett will sign copies of his new book, " Detroit Lions : An Illustrated Timeline" from noon-2 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Troy Sports Card Show at the Balkan American Community Center.
Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions: 'Good to have Rodrigo back' after Alex Anzalone injury
