The newest member of the Detroit Lions is prepared to go “nasty” in the trenches.
On March 15, defensive tackle D.J. Reader traveled to Detroit for a free agent visit and signed a two-year contract worth up to $27 million. Reader talked with reporters after signing the contract, saying he admires the Lions’ tenacity and is eager to join them in being physical.
“That grit, that nastiness, I mean, if you’re a D-lineman, you want to play in an environment like that,” Reader stated, according to Justin Rogers of the Detroit News. “Guys are going to fly around and play hard; their coaches are tough-nosed, and (coach Dan Campbell) is demanding but not disrespectful. That is wonderful. You desire those kinds of things. If you don’t want to go through that as a player, you won’t improve. I believe that being here and seeing the atmosphere here makes it a location where people want to come to improve themselves, and that starts at the top.”
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As Rogers mentioned, Reader is likely to play a significant part for the Lions, alongside Alim McNeill on the defensive line. Though Reader has struggled with ailments in recent seasons, including a knee injury that required him to miss six games in 2022, the former fifth-round pick remains confidence in his ability to produce at a high level.
Rogers stated that he was able to comeback from a quad injury to play in the Super Bowl, recording a sack against Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford during the loss.
“Last quad injury, came back, went to the Super Bowl, got a sack in the Super Bowl, balled out,” Reader told ESPN. “There’s the same confidence here. That is why I advise you to never allow others create your image of what you see in the mirror. Never let someone paint your picture. You know who you are. You see it every day. Look at yourself; you know who you are, therefore be secure in it. I’m quite confident in where I’m going.”
