Detroit Lions LB Malcolm Rodriguez ruled out vs. Titans with ankle injury

Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans with an ankle injury.

Rodriguez was carted to the locker room in the first quarter after he limped off the field on kick coverage following the Lions’ first touchdown. The team initially ruled him as questionable with an ankle injury before being later downgraded to out at the end of the first quarter.

Rodriguez has been the team’s primary backup option at off-ball linebacker behind Alex Anzalone and Jack Campbell. He has stepped into a consistent contributing role in the last few weeks as his snap count increased due to the season-ending injury to Derrick Barnes and the Lions’ thin depth on the edge.

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Anzalone, Campbell, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Ben Niemann and Trevor Nowaske, who had an interception in the first quarter, are the Lions’ linebackers for the rest of the game against Tennessee. The Lions were leading 14-7 at the end of the first quarter when Rodriguez was ruled out.

The Lions’ defensive depth in the front seven continues to be tested. On top of not having Rodriguez or Barnes, the Lions are without edge rushers Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport for the rest of the season and Josh Paschal is out Sunday with an illness.