DJ

Reader

Decker will now miss his third game since Week 10 and was entirely unable to practice this week. Hopefully, the team is just taking the conservative route and Decker will be readily available for the stretch run later this season. The Lions will be woefully short-staffed in the defensive trenches, having also ruled out DL Josh Paschal (knee), DL Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring) and DL DJ Reader (shoulder).

Reader picked up the shoulder injury last week and appears iffy for Thursday night’s game against the Packers. He’s one of several Detroit defensive starters in doubt for Week 14. DL Josh Pascal (knee) missed Tuesday’s practice, as did DL Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring). The Lions’ defensive injuries could be a boon for Jordan Love and the Green Bay offense on a short week.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Reader reportedly passed his physical after months of rehabilitation. Reader suffered a torn quadriceps in Week 15, 2023 and his Week 1 status remained uncertain entering training camp. His activation is a positive step in that regard. Reader provides an imposing three-down presence for the Lions’ defensive line.

Reader suffered a torn quad in Week 15 against the Vikings last season. The veteran lineman signed a two-year, $27.25 million deal with the Lions earlier this offseason, but we don’t yet have a timeline on when he may return. Head coach Dan Campbell has already gone on record saying it’s unlikely Reader will return by training camp, which could make him a candidate for the PUP list once the season kicks off.

Reader secured a nice payday for himself. The veteran tackle the last three weeks of the regular season with a torn quad, but NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports “everything checked out” regarding his visit, and he is now ready to join the Lions. Reader totaled 34 tackles, one sack, and two TFLS in 14 games for the Bengals last season and has been a force on run defense for much of his career. He’ll join a Lions defense that allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game last season and the third-lowest yards per carry.

Reader left the Bengals’ Week 15 thrilling win abruptly in the first quarter and did not return. It has since been revealed that he suffered a torn quad and will now miss the remainder of the 2023 season while on injured reserve.

Reader suffered a right leg injury in the first quarter of the team’s Week 15 game against the Vikings. He was carted to the locker room and ruled out for the remainder of the game at halftime.

Reader is Cincinnati’s best run-stuffing tackle. Without him, Cincinnati has allowed at least 150 total rushing yards in three of their last five games, and only really shut down the Panthers. This figures to be bad news for Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren this week.

The Bengals now have three weeks to add Reader to the active roster or he will revert to season-ending injured reserve. In the meantime, Reader can resume practicing. Reader’s eventual return to the lineup will be a boost to the Bengals’ defense as a capable interior pass rusher.

Reader is eligible to return for Week 8, but it sounds like the team expects him to be out for a bit longer than that. A staple along the Bengals’ defensive line, Reader’s presence will be missed as the team now looks to Josh Tupou and Zachary Carter to fill the vacated role. Reader has totaled nine tackles and eight quarterback pressures on the season per PFF.