“It Was Really Hard” D.J. Reader Signs $27.25 Million Contract to Join Detroit Lions For 2024 NFL Season

D.J. Reader, a well-known defensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals, will start the 2024 NFL season with the Detroit Lions. He signed a two-year, $27.25 million contract to play with the Lions.

The reader had mentioned that his departure from the Bengals was “very painful” on “The Jim Rome Show.” “Things happen in free agency, and whether it’s upstairs going in a different path or, you know, I did get injured a couple times there,” he added, as reported by NFL.com.

The Houston Texans selected the defensive end with the 166th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. After playing for the Texans from 2016 to 2019, he went on to play for four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Reader experienced a left quadriceps tear in 2020, which caused him to miss eleven games. But he and quarterback Joe Burrow led the Bengals to Super Bowl LVI the following season. They also made it to the AFC Championship Game the following season.

Reader missed seven games in the 2022 campaign and again in Week 15 of the 2023 season due to a right quadriceps tear. Despite having had his career disrupted by injuries, the gifted defensive end is now rated as one of the finest at his position (82.2 overall).

Additionally, he revealed, “I don’t see any obstacles preventing me from returning to my previous position as a player.” I rank among the top three players at my position when I’m on the field. Therefore, I don’t think that will alter after I return and my knee heals. I think going out there and doing this will be, as you mentioned, another setup for greatness.

The reader has stated that he is confident in his talents and does not anticipate that his injuries will prevent him from being the best athlete he was or affect his direction.