He is ‘The Big Wrecking Ball’ on the gridiron. At 6’3″ and 335 pounds, DJ Reader barrels through offensive lines with a ferocious combination of power and tenacity. For the Detroit Lions, his arrival isn’t just about bolstering the run defense – it’s about embodying a new defensive identity.
The head coach Dan Campbell went all in with his praises for the Lions’ latest addition to their defensive arsenal. For the 47-year-old coach, DJ Reader is the guy who fits perfectly in the team in many ways. The athlete has been a cornerstone for the Bengals’ franchise turnaround, and Campbell acknowledges what he brings to the table.
He put it bluntly on this week’s episode of Twentyman in the Huddle, “He was one of those guys when you start free agency and you start watching tapes uh he’s one that immediately jumps off the tape.” Campbell didn’t hold back his excitement and went on, “You just feel like he’s part of us, like he belongs with us the way he plays his tenacity, his strength, his violence, his finish.”
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A former 5th-round pick by the Houston Texans in 2016 out of Clemson, Reader has carved out an impressive NFL career. D.J. Reader dominated for four years in Houston before signing a 4-year, $53 million contract with Cincinnati in 2020. An immovable force, he started all 44 games for the Bengals, racking up 123 tackles and 3 sacks. He is often praised for his disruptive interior presence that consistently wreaked havoc along the defensive line.
The 29-year-old defensive tackle also understands the importance of being with the Lions. After signing a reported two-year, $27.25 million deal with the Lions Reader has expressed his mindset to ESPN, “I think they’re ahead of where I was when I got [to Cincinnati],” Reader stated, drawing parallels to the Bengals’ resurgence. “These guys got that same taste in their mouth that I got. I got to a Super Bowl and lost. These guys got to an NFC championship and lost.”
That hunger for redemption permeates the Lions’ facility. Having tasted the bitterness of coming up just short of a championship, the team is ravenous – and Reader perfectly exemplifies that insatiable drive. Despite suffering a tough quad injury last season, he’s already “ahead of schedule” in his recovery, eager to run through walls alongside his new teammates.
More than just a brick in the wall, Reader embodies the tough, resilient identity Detroit is cultivating. His gritty mentality echoes Campbell’s hard-nosed philosophy. With Reader anchoring the defensive interior, that relentless championship-or-bust mentality now has a formidable enforcer.
DJ Reader can bring on the wreckage with the Lions
For DJ Reader, the journey from Cincinnati to Detroit is more than just changing teams – it’s about renaissance and rebirth. The man who helped transform the Bengals from league laughingstock to fierce contenders is now tasked with fortifying the Lions’ defensive identity.
Reader’s impact in Cincinnati cannot be overstated. As defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo praised, he was “one of the unit’s most consistent players” despite modest stats. His ability to collapse the pocket created sack opportunities, while his physical presence stymied running games. Reader was the lynchpin of a defense that complemented the high-flying Bengals offense en route to a Super Bowl appearance.
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In Detroit, he steps into a similar scenario – a hungry team that tasted playoff heartbreak and is now aiming higher than ever. But this time, Reader won’t be a supporting piece. He’ll be the defensive cornerstone, the immovable object around which the Lions can mold their attacking, hard-nosed identity.
Alongside young studs like Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill, Reader brings a crucial blend of production and leadership. His is a voice that commands respect, forged from overcoming injuries and thriving as a defensive catalyst. In Detroit’s gritty rebuilding culture, that’s exactly the mindset needed and Reader brings it handy.
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What’s your take on this key addition? Will the Lions’ make it through this time?
