The Detroit Lions got great news about defensive lineman D.J. Reader on Sunday, just two days before the roster cutdown deadline.
The team announced that Reader has passed his physical and has been activated from the active/physically unable to perform list. Reader has spent the entire offseason recovering from a torn quadriceps injury he sustained in 2023.
With Reader now activated, he has two weeks to practice and prepare for Week 1, which is set for Sunday, Sept. 8, against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Lions signed Reader during free agency this offseason, securing him with a two-year, $22 million contract to strengthen their defensive line. He is expected to start alongside 2023 breakout star Alim McNeill, and together, the duo has the potential to become one of the top defensive pairs in the NFL.
Drafted in the fifth round by the Houston Texans in 2016, Reader emerged as one of the more talented interior defensive linemen during his time with the team.
However, his career was marred by injuries during his four years with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he suffered torn quadriceps in both legs—his left quad in 2020 and his right quad in 2023.
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