Head coach Dan Campbell told reporters Thursday that Reader (quadriceps) may not be ready for the start of training camp, per NFL.com. Reader inked a two-year deal with the Lions' back in March, but he has yet to take the field as he continues to recover from a quadriceps issue that he sustained late last year. Injuries have been a concern for the 29-year-old as of late, causing him to miss 10 total games over the last two seasons. Once Reader returns to full health, he's expected to remain one of the league's best run-stoppers in 2024.
![D.J. Reader](https://cdn.statically.io/img/heavy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/940x940-crop-2457.png?w=380)
Unlock the latest Detroit Lions news — direct to your inbox.
Status
QUESTIONABLE - Quadriceps - Not Specified Expected Return: 2024-08-08Latest DJ Reader news
![D.J. Reader](https://cdn.statically.io/img/heavy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/940x940-crop-2457.png?w=100)
D.J. Reader Career Stats
Career Stats
Defensive
Year | GP | SOLO | AST | TOTAL | SACK | SACKYDS | INT | DEF |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | 14 | 20 | 14 | 34 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
2022 | 10 | 18 | 9 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
2021 | 15 | 22 | 21 | 43 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
2020 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
2019 | 15 | 28 | 24 | 52 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
2018 | 16 | 23 | 10 | 33 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
2017 | 14 | 23 | 24 | 47 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
2016 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
![D.J. Reader](https://cdn.statically.io/img/heavy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/940x940-crop-2457.png?w=100)
D.J. Reader Game Log 2023
2023 Regular Season
|
defensive
|
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date
|
Opp
|
Result
|
SOLO
|
AST
|
TOTAL
|
SACK
|
SACKYDS
|
INT
|
DEF
|
TFL
|
12/10
|
W
34-14
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
12/4
|
W
34-31
|
1
|
5
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
11/26
|
L
10-16
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
11/16
|
L
20-34
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
11/12
|
L
27-30
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
11/5
|
W
24-18
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
|
10/29
|
W
31-17
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
10/15
|
W
17-13
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
10/8
|
W
34-20
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
10/1
|
L
3-27
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
9/25
|
W
19-16
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
9
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
|
9/17
|
L
24-27
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
9/10
|
L
3-24
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
Regular Season Totals |
20
|
14
|
34
|
1
|
9
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
![D.J. Reader](https://cdn.statically.io/img/heavy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/940x940-crop-2457.png?w=100)
D.J. Reader Player Profile
Career History
![Bengals's logo](https://cdn.statically.io/img/heavy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cincinnati-bengals-logo.png?w=150)
![Texans's logo](https://cdn.statically.io/img/heavy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Texans-logo.png?w=150)
![D.J. Reader](https://cdn.statically.io/img/heavy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/940x940-crop-2457.png?w=100)
D.J. Reader Fantasy Projections
It's the offseason! 😎
Check back next season for fresh
AI-powered projections.
![DFS Pro Daily Logo](https://cdn.statically.io/img/heavy.com/wp-content/themes/heavy/assets/images/sports/dfs-pro-daily.png)
Can't wait for more data?
Join dfsPro Daily for free
AI-powered Fantasy Picks
Year-Round.
![D.J. Reader](https://cdn.statically.io/img/heavy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/940x940-crop-2457.png?w=100)
D.J. Reader Latest News
Could miss start of training camp
![Team logo](https://cdn.statically.io/img/heavy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/detroit-lions-logo.png?w=150)
Head coach Dan Campbell told reporters Thursday that Reader (quadriceps) may not be ready for the start of training camp, per NFL.com. Reader inked a two-year deal with the Lions' back in March, but he has yet to take the field as he continues to recover from a quadriceps issue that he sustained late last year. Injuries have been a concern for the 29-year-old as of late, causing him to miss 10 total games over the last two seasons. Once Reader returns to full health, he's expected to remain one of the league's best run-stoppers in 2024.
Headed to Detroit
![Team logo](https://cdn.statically.io/img/heavy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/detroit-lions-logo.png?w=150)
The Lions signed Reader (quadriceps) to a two-year deal Thursday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Reader's 2023 campaign was cut short due to a torn quadriceps, but it seems as if he's moved past the issue and now signed with the Lions. The 29-year-old defensive tackle was putting up solid numbers before he sustained his injury, recording 34 total tackles, including 1.0 sack and an additional tackle for loss across 14 appearances. Reader is known as one of the best run-stoppers in the entire NFL and he's expected to help improve a Lions' defensive line that already ranked second in rush yards allowed per game (91.1 yards) in 2023.