Lions star Malcolm Rodriguez's wife Kennedy shares update on LB's ACL surgery
In a heartwarming social media post, Kennedy Frazer shared an update about her husband Malcolm Rodriguez's recovery journey after a season-ending injury.
Her Instagram story on Friday featured a touching photo of her holding Rodriguez's hand in the hospital.
"Thank you guys for the sweet messages, he is up and all went smooth," Frazer captioned.
Rodriguez suffered the injury during the Detroit Lions' dramatic Thanksgiving Day win over the Chicago Bears. He hurt his right knee late in the fourth quarter. Although he walked off the field on his own, the injury was later confirmed as a torn ACL.
Malcolm Rodriguez's injury was a blow to the Lions' defense
The linebacker's injury compounds the Detroit Lions' mounting defensive challenges. Malcolm Rodriguez had been a critical player this season, starting six games and delivering 43 tackles and two sacks.
His injury comes amid a wave of defensive setbacks for Detroit. Teammates Derrick Barnes (MCL and PCL tear) and Alex Anzalone (broken forearm) are also out for the season. Lions coach Dan Campbell has seen multiple defensive players, including Josh Paschal, Levi Onwuzurike and Aiden Hutchinson, among others, face significant health challenges.
Detroit signed former Pro Bowl linebacker Kwon Alexander from the Denver Broncos practice squad following Rodriguez's injury. This strategic move aims to maintain the team's defensive strength as they continue to lead the NFL with an excellent 12-1 record.
Interestingly, the Thanksgiving game against the Bears marked the Lions' first holiday victory since 2016, a 23-20 win that came with a heavy defensive cost.
Kennedy's Instagram update offered a personal perspective on Rodriguez's recovery. Her message of hope and resilience provides fans with a glimpse into the human side of professional football.