Lions LB Alex Anzalone is inactive for today's game against the Cardinals because of a concussion. That should leave LBs Derrick Barnes and Jack Campbell playing full-time snaps -- or at least near full.
Lions LB Malcolm Rodriguez injured his right elbow on the 1st possession of Sunday's win over the Packers. He returned to the game with a brace on it, but wound up playing much less than usual (19 snaps). The rookie trailed Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes in that category. "He was able to go back in, do a little bit but I know he irritated it," HC Dan Campbell told the Detroit Free Press on Monday. "We’ll see where he feels over the next few days." Plan on not having Rodriguez in your Week 10 IDP lineups. We'll see whether Barnes can be an option. Anzalone has spent all season as a full-timer.
The Lions re-signed LB Alex Anzalone this offseason and opened spring workouts with him and 2nd-year LB Derrick Barnes as starters. LBs coach Kelvin Sheppard says no one's job is "safe," though. "[Anzalone] has the most time-on-task in my room, but that doesn't designate him the starter," Sheppard tells PrideofDetroit.com. "The things we did last year are not acceptable ... so don't tell me about what a guy did last year." Detroit also added Chris Board and 6th-round rookie Malcolm Rodriguez, brought back former Lion (and 1-year Jet) Jarrad Davis, and got Shaun Dion Hamilton back from a full year spent on IR. In the same interview, Sheppard had praise for Barnes ("The sky's the limit for him."), Board ("He has a unique skill set."), Anthony Pittman ("putting on a clinic so far") and Rodriguez ("It's arrows up on him."). Sheppard added that Rodriguez has already showed the potential to call the defensive plays, which would mean wearing the green dot and likely staying on the field 3 downs. The whole situation will need to play out in camp and preseason, and we're not ready to invest in any of them. Barnes and Rodriguez look most intriguing as dynasty stashes and late-round dart throws in IDP fantasy football leagues.
Lions MLB Alex Anzalone left Sunday's loss to the Broncos in the 1st half with an ankle injury. In his absence, Josh Woods led Detroit LBs in playing time at 94% and racked up a game-high 13 tackles. Rookie Derrick Barnes followed at 69%, with LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin inactive.
Lions HC Dan Campbell confirmed Thursday reports that the team is trying to trade LB Jamie Collins. That makes sense as Detroit tries to go younger at the position. The Lions reportedly plan to increase playing time for rookie LB Derrick Barnes beginning this week. Alex Anzalone still looks like the best bet for snaps for the time being, though we'll see just how much Detroit is looking to change things up. No Lions LB is especially attractive for IDP use right now. Collins could be a low-cost upside option in a new setting.
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