The Lions are bringing LB Alex Anzalone back on a three-year, $18.75 million deal, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. That's particularly noteworthy money for Anzalone, who played each of the past two seasons for Detroit on one-year pacts. He got just $1.75 million in 2021 and then $2.5 million last year. But Anzalone increased his playing time each season vs. what he got across four seasons in New Orleans. That included playing 95.1% of the snaps across 17 games last year. Anzalone also saw boosts in his Pro Football Focus grading across categories and cracked the top 30 LBs in fantasy points. Expect him to remain the Lions' best bet for full playing time at the position, heading into his age-29 season. There's still room for 2022 rookie Malcolm Rodriguez to grow his role, though, vs. where Rodriguez finished the season.

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.

The Lions on Monday placed LB Alex Anzalone on IR with the right-shoulder injury he suffered Sunday. That knocks him out for the final 3 games of the season. Anzalone has had issues with that shoulder in the past. We'll see about his status heading into 2022. Anzalone is set to hit free agency in March. As for this year's Lions, Josh Woods would be a primary fill-in but also suffered a shoulder injury against the Cardinals. We'll see about his status this week. Jalen Reeves-Maybin looks like the best bet for playing time among Detroit LBs.

Lions LB Alex Anzalone left Sunday's win over the Cardinals with a shoulder injury and did not return. That marks the 2nd straight game in which Anzalone has gotten hurt, following a Week 14 ankle issue that left him questionable for Sunday. It'll be tough to like him for Week 16 IDP lineups, even if he makes it back from this one. LB Josh Woods also left Sunday's game with a shoulder injury. We'll see who Detroit has available heading into next Sunday.

Lions LB Alex Anzalone (ankle) is active for today's game against the Cardinals. DE Michael Brockers (knee) and LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (shoulder) are also active. The presence of Anzalone and Reeves-Maybin likely keeps LB Josh Woods from being IDP relevant after 2 straight weeks of nice tackle production. This is a defense to avoid if possible in IDP lineups.

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.

Chris Burke of The Athletic believes that Lions MLB Alex Anzalone "almost certainly" will be wearing the green-dot helmet and calling defensive plays come the regular season. "Anzalone could be out there for close to 100 percent of the snaps (health willing)," Burke adds. Anzalone has history with HC Dan Campbell and DC Aaron Glenn from their shared time in New Orleans. Injuries limited Anzalone's playing time there. The 2 (of 4) seasons in which he played all 16 games found Anzalone staying on the field for just 47.2% and 50.2% of snaps. It sounds like he's headed for a lot more with these Lions, which makes Anzalone an intriguing pick at the end of IDP fantasy football drafts.

Saints LB Kwon Alexander tore the Achilles' tendon in his right leg in Friday's win over the Vikings. That obviously ends his season, and the late-December timing figures to threaten his start to 2021. The final 2 years remaining on his contract look expensive and cuttable. So we'll see what the offseason holds for this 26-year-old, whom the Saints acquired via trade in November. LB Alex Anzalone replaced Alexander against Minnesota and figures to return to the starting lineup the rest of the way.

The 49ers are trading LB Kwon Alexander to the Saints for LB Kiko Alonso and a conditional 5th-round pick, according to multiple reports. Alexander has missed the past 2 games with a high-ankle sprain but should be back soon. San Francisco HC Kyle Shanahan said originally that the team believed it to be a "minor" sprain. Alexander should join Demario Davis in playing full-time snaps, likely sapping playing time from LB Alex Anzalone. We'll keep an eye on Alexander to see when he'll officially jump into the lineup. A healthy Alexander enhances the upside of the New Orleans team defense. The Niners, meanwhile, can now keep LB Dre Greenlaw in his full-time role alongside Fred Warner. He has seen increased playing time with Alexander out.

The Saints drafted Florida LB Alex Anzalone in Round 3 of the NFL Draft. Anzalone posted uninspiring numbers in college while dealing with multiple shoulder injuries and a broken left arm. He took a medical redshirt as a 2015 junior after his 2nd shoulder injury and then tallied just 53 total tackles in his lone starting season. Anzalone flashed his athleticism in Senior Bowl workouts and at the Combine, however. He ranked 77th percentile in the 40 and 86th percentile in the 3-cone drill at 6'3 and 241 pounds. We'll see how soon Anzalone can get on the field in a LB corps that has been seeking answers for a while.