Ask most Detroit Lions fans what the weakest position group on the team is and you’re going to hear “linebacker” more than any other. But a late-round rookie is fixing to change that a lot faster than nearly anyone expected.
Malcolm Rodriguez has quickly, steadily climbed up the Lions’ depth chart at linebacker. From opening camp as one of the two third-team LBs to the end of the practices leading into Saturday’s second preseason game, Rodriguez is now taking first-team reps almost exclusively. And “Rodrigo”, as he’s become known from his starring role in the first two Hard Knocks episodes, is proving he belongs in the starting lineup of Detroit’s 4-2-5 defense.
