By Jeff Howe, Colton Pouncy and Chris Licata
The Detroit Lions signed linebacker Kwon Alexander off the Denver Broncos’ practice squad, a league source confirmed Friday, in response to mounting injuries on defense.
On Thursday, third-year linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez tore his ACL during the fourth quarter of Detroit’s 23-20 win over the Chicago Bears, a league source said. He will miss the remainder of the 2024 season.
The Lions entered Week 1 with seven linebackers on the roster, which felt high at the time. The room was praised for its depth and versatility. It was viewed as one of the strongest positions on the team. That’s not the case anymore. Rodriguez will be the fourth of those linebackers to be placed on injured reserve — once he officially lands there. He’ll join Derrick Barnes (knee), Jalen Reeves-Maybin (neck) and Alex Anzalone (forearm), all of whom have or will miss significant time with injuries.
Rodriguez was filling in for the injured Anzalone, placed on injured reserve after the Jaguars game, and was a trusted, dependable player for this defense. Anzalone is expected back in late December or early January, but the Lions will be thin until then. Jack Campbell is the only linebacker left standing among Detroit’s top five at the position.
Expect the Lions to lean on Ben Niemann, David Long Jr., Ezekiel Turner and now, Alexander.
The Lions moved quickly to add Alexander to the mix, with Campbell hinting that Rodriguez’s injury was serious after Thursday’s win over the Bears. Alexander, 30, played in three games for Denver this season, including two starts in Weeks 7 and 9. A former Pro Bowler in 2017, the 10th-year veteran has racked up 639 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles and nine interceptions across 107 career games (90 starts).
Alexander now joins his seventh NFL team, one that is trying to pick up the pieces after its defense was shattered by injuries.
More than just the linebacker room, the entire Lions defense has been hit hard. Marcus Davenport and Aidan Hutchinson are done for the regular season. Starting corners Terrion Arnold and Carlton Davis have each sat out with injuries. Reserve corners Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Emmanuel Moseley have spent time on IR. Reserve defensive linemen like John Cominsky and Kyle Peko are currently shelved. Josh Paschal (knee) and Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring) left Thursday’s game and did not return.
It’s been one thing after another. The Lions won 10 games in a row and are 11-1 for the first time in franchise history, but this isn’t the same team it was even a month ago. They might need to grind out victories, like the one on Thanksgiving.
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(Photo: Cooper Neill / Getty Images)
