Lions sign unrestricted free agent DL DJ Reader
Allen Park, Mich. – The Detroit Lions announced today that they have signed unrestricted free agent DL DJ Reader. Contract terms were not disclosed.
Reader joins the Lions after spending the last four seasons (2020-23) with the Cincinnati Bengals. In 2023, Reader started all 14 games in which he appeared and produced 34 tackles (20 solo), seven quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one pass defense and one fumble recovery.
He spent his first four seasons of the NFL (2016–19) with the Houston Texans, who had originally selected him out of Clemson in the fifth round (166th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has accumulated 277 tackles (149 solo), 44 quarterback hits, 23 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble in 105 career games (96 starts).
