The Detroit Lions signed veteran defensive tackle DJ Reader on Thursday, a reasonably audacious move to bolster their run defense.

A source stated that the agreement contains $9.5 million in guarantees. As the details were not disclosed, the speakers agreed to remain anonymous.

Reader is general manager Brad Holmes’ largest offseason move to perhaps help Detroit advance at least one more season. Holmes’ contract was extended earlier in the day, as was coach Dan Campbell’s.

The Lions, who are now defending NFC North winners and are making their first trip to the conference championship game since 1991, have made a number of less spectacular moves in the past.

Detroit signed cornerback Amik Robertson and edge rusher Marcus Davenport, re-signed lineman Graham Glasgow, special teams star Jalen Reeves-Maybin, and cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley and Khalil Dorsey, and acquired cornerback Carlton Davis from Tampa Bay.

The 335-pound, 6-foot-3 reader should aid the Lions in stopping the run and offer postseason experience. He has participated in 12 postseason games for the Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals, starting every one of them.

Reader has started 97 out of 105 games in eight seasons. With 9 1/2 sacks, he has 277 tackles. He was traded to Houston after being selected by New England in the fifth round of the 2016 Clemson draft, where he spent four seasons before signing a free agent contract with the Bengals in 2020..

Before suffering a season-ending leg injury in December of last year, Reader had 34 tackles in 14 games, including one sack.