A sixth-round draft pick in 2022, Rodriguez earned a starting job as a rookie and produced 87 tackles in 16 games. He’s served a mostly reserve and special teams role the last three seasons following the addition of Jack Campbell to the linebacker room in 2023, but Rodriguez has made seven spot starts over that stretch.
In 2024 while filling in for an injured Anzalone, Rodriguez suffered a torn ACL that ultimately sidelined him nearly an entire year. He returned Nov. 23 of last season and played in Detroit’s final seven games with one start at the WILL spot the final week of the season in place of the injured Anzalone. He recorded four tackles and a tackle for loss in Detroit’s win over Chicago.
Rodriguez said Monday he dealt with stiffness in the knee when he first returned after a long rehab process, but said the knee feels back to normal now and he’s looking forward to an offseason to just work on his craft and not rehab an injury.