After missing a significant portion of the last two seasons with an ACL tear, Malcolm Rodriguez is healthy heading into training camp. He made his return in November last season, but he was clearly not himself in the seven games he played. With Alex Anzalone's departure, Rodriguez is now in line to be the starter WILL linebacker for the Lions after signing a one-year deal in the offseason.
His path to the starting job, however, isn't going to be as clear as it once seemed. The Lions also drafted Jimmy Rolder in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and it looks like he will give Rodrigo a run for his money.
Malcolm Rodriguez & Jimmy Rolder will be battling to be the starter in training camp
Rolder was one of the OTA and minicamp standouts for the Lions. Per Tim Twentyman of Lions.com, Rolder was among five players who impressed the most during last week's minicamp. This gives him momentum heading into training camp in July, making the competition between Rodriguez and him a fascinating one to watch.
Rodriguez still has the inside track to be the starter as things stand now. He is entering his fifth year with the team and has a ton of special teams reps under his belt in addition to defensive snaps. He hasn't been a full-time starter since his rookie campaign, but he was able to turn himself into a fan favorite thanks to his grit and motor. He is the type of player the Lions under Dan Campbell have long coveted.
However, the 27-year-old defender has to show that the ACL injury is firmly behind him. In the 72 defensive snaps he played last season, he had a miserable 28.4 defensive grade on Pro Football Focus. He particularly struggled in coverage, an area that seems to be a strength for Rolder, who has good hands and instincts, and had a nice interception in Tuesday's practice.
Plus, defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said that the Lions are planning to use the nickel position significantly more in 2026. Unlike last season, when Detroit used its base defense more than any other team in the NFL, the Lions will take out a linebacker for a slot corner more often. This could also mean fewer snaps for Rodriguez than initially thought.
This has the makings of an intense training camp battle between Rolder and Rodriguez. New addition Damone Clark will also challenge for a spot in the rotation.
This is exactly what has Campbell excited about this year's roster. There is competition in different positions, and this could only yield positive results as the Lions hope to get back to their winning ways.
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