Malcolm Rodriguez has played both offense and defense for the Lions this season; he is one of the few two-way players in the modern NFL, and he will probably see more playing time on both sides of the ball.
Rodriguez caught his first career pass on Thanksgiving, and Lions head coach Dan Campbell stated today that he wants Rodriguez to play more this week against the Saints, both at fullback and at linebacker.
He will need to shoulder a heavier burden. He has some defensive experience, and we’ll need him more offensively as well, according to Campbell. We’re going to give him a little more time here, but he’s capable. You noticed that he has hands and that he can flip his hips. He has power and is tough. He is intelligent. Thus, it’s quite remarkable, really, it’s quite remarkable. Making the most of the roster… Rodrigo is performing admirably. We’re just giving this child some time to develop and see where he goes.
This season, Rodriguez has played in 187 plays on special teams, which has been his main duty, in addition to 20 offensive and 66 defensive snaps. However, Rodriguez proved that he is a fullback capable of more than just short-yardage blocking when he made that catch against the Packers on Thanksgiving. Additionally, the Lions believe he can contribute defensively in lieu of injured linebacker Alex Anzalone. On Sunday, Rodriguez might see a lot of action in all three phases.
