Lions set to get sneaky boost as overlooked defender nears return from injury
The Detroit Lions went into their Week 8 bye on a high note with a 24-9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The defense, with a secondary depleted by injuries and the suspension of Brian Branch, especially stepped up.
Heading into that game, with the bye week around the corner, head coach Dan Campbell was asked about linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez as he seemingly nears a return from the torn ACL he suffered last Thanksgiving.
"Yeah, we're hoping after the bye (to start Rodriguez's 21-day return window), we can start rolling him out there a little bit", Campbell said.
Rodriguez underwent a second surgery to clean up scar tissue in his injured right knee during the offseason. That didn't appear likely to impact the expectation he'd be able to return sometime in November, approaching one year since his injury, and Campbell's comments confirmed that.
Malcolm Rodriguez is more than ready to return to action
While the Lions' secondary became the "Legion of Whom" against the Buccaneers, the linebacking corps has been a core strength of the defense. Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone, and Derrick Barnes are all having nice seasons (No. 5, No. 23, and No. 33, respectively, among off-ball linebackers by overall Pro Football Focus grade entering Week 8).
So, barring injury (knock on wood), Rodriguez will likely slide into a role as a core special teamer when he's ready to play. That said, he has been effective filling in when needed since he started 15 games as a rookie in 2022.
Before he was injured last season, with Barnes out due to an early-season knee injury and Anzalone later suffering a broken arm, Rodriguez had 43 total tackles and two sacks over 10 games (six starts) and 318 defensive snaps.
The fourth-year man said he's been cleared for everything but football activity for more than a month and has been waiting "to plug in at the perfect time to come back."
"I'm ready for it," Rodriguez said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "It's one of those things where I want to get thrown into the fire and see what it does. I don't want to just ease into it, I kind of want to go full force."
Every case has to be treated uniquely (see Alim McNeill), but the Lions tend to slow-play putting players back on the field when they're coming back from major injuries. So it's possible that Rodriguez's three-week window to be activated is taken right to the end, and his playing time may be carefully managed for a game or two. But as expected, "Rodrigo" has no interest in being eased into action.
Yankees’ Infielder Faces Uncertain Future as Free Agency Looms
The New York Yankees are barreling toward October with momentum, but one of their most respected veterans is facing the end of an era. Paul Goldschmidt, a seven-time All-Star and former MVP, knows the questions about his future are only getting louder. At 38 years old and headed toward free agency, it is widely expected that the Yankees will not bring him back in 2026.
Goldschmidt, however, isn’t rushing into decisions.
“I’ll just worry about it (in the offseason),” he said recently, per the New York Daily News. “I’m always someone who stays in the moment. Whatever the future holds, there’ll be a time to think about that and deal with that then.”
A Diminished Role, but the Same Professional
The Yankees took a one-year gamble on Goldschmidt this winter, signing him to a $12.5 million deal after he endured the worst season of his career in St. Louis. For a while, the bet looked smart. Through his first 57 games, he was hitting .338 with an .889 OPS, showing flashes of the consistent hitter who once terrorized pitching staffs in Arizona and St. Louis.
Since then, the production has dipped. Over his next 83 games, Goldschmidt posted a .230 average and a .626 OPS, numbers that underscored his struggles against right-handed pitching. The power that made him a National League MVP in 2022 has also faded—just 10 home runs and 44 RBI mark career lows over a full season.
Even so, Goldschmidt has remained a weapon against lefties, putting up a 1.020 OPS against southpaws. That platoon success should be enough to earn him looks from other teams this offseason, albeit in a reduced role.
Defensively, he’s no longer the Gold Glove-caliber anchor he once was, but he still carries the instincts and hands that have defined his career. His -3 Outs Above Average put him near the bottom of qualified first basemen, yet the Yankees have trusted him to make plays in big moments.
Leadership That Can’t Be Measured
If Goldschmidt’s bat and glove have lost some bite, his presence in the clubhouse remains as strong as ever. Manager Aaron Boone praised him as “the gold standard” when it comes to leadership and character, a sentiment echoed by younger teammates like Ben Rice.
Rice, a natural catcher adjusting to first base, has leaned on Goldschmidt’s mentorship all season. “You can really pick his brain about anything,” Rice said. “He’s so approachable, and it’s just been such a pleasure to play with him this year.”
The Yankees are positioned to move forward without him. Rice has shown he can handle left-handed pitchers, and the front office remains focused on re-signing Cody Bellinger, who could also see time at first base.
The reality is that New York has younger, more versatile options. Goldschmidt’s age, diminished production, and price tag make him unlikely to return.
Still, across the league, teams will notice his ability to hit lefties, his professionalism, and his reputation as one of the game’s best teammates. A smaller contract and platoon role could keep him on a roster if he decides retirement can wait.
For now, Goldschmidt insists the decision isn’t on his mind. His priority is helping the Yankees chase a championship.
“I’m enjoying playing,” he said. “And I don’t want to let my focus shift from today’s game or this year.”
Goldschmidt makes this run either his last or just his final chapter in pinstripes, turning his future into one of the offseason’s most intriguing storylines.
