When you think of the Detroit Lions, you think of their fiery head coach, Dan Campbell, their explosive offense headlined by Jared Goff and Amon Ra-St. Brown and their top defenders, Aidan Hutchinson and Kerby Joseph. Outside of Lions fans, very few talk about the impact of defensive linemen D.J. Reader and what he brings to the defense.
Reader isn’t going to fill up the stat sheet with double-digit sacks or tackles for loss. While he can do those things, the area he excels in is against the run, as he’s regarded as one of the best run defenders in the league. If you're an offense that loves to run the football, Reader is your worst nightmare, as he’s only had three seasons where he received a run grade lower than 70, per Pro Football Focus.
Reader has never made a Pro-Bowl or has never been named an All-Pro, but has always played at a high level throughout his ten-year career, and continues to do so this season. Although he’s been quiet to start the season, Reader recorded three tackles, two of which were solo, in the Week 4 win versus the Cleveland Browns, receiving a 74.3 run grade.
Readers’ play and presence have been invaluable to the Lions' defense, as they’ve been one of the best teams against the run this season because of the attention he draws.
Lions' D.J. Reader Continues to be Underrated
Opposing offenses are having difficulties running the football against the Lions this season, as Detroit rank eighth in both rushing yards allowed (94) and rushing yards per carry (3.8) through four games. Teams have been doing everything they can to avoid running the ball towards Reader’s direction.
Reader’s stats may look like he hasn’t done much, but that’s because opponents emphasize taking him out of the game by double-teaming him, which has led to Reader having the second-highest double-team percentage (79.37%) among defensive linemen. The attention that Reader draws has also helped the Lions' pass rush, as they’re tied second for the most sacks (14).
Quietly dominating the line of scrimmage is something Reader has done since he was selected by the Houston Texans in the 2016 draft. The fifth-round selection spent his first four years with the Texans, recording 154 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and six and a half sacks before signing a four-year, $53 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals.
With the Bengals, Reader was a key contributor in helping the team reach the Super Bowl in 2021, recording 123 total tackles and 16 tackles for loss in 44 games. Reader signed a two-year, $27.25 million contract with the Lions last offseason, instantly bolstering their defensive line alongside Hutchinson.
In his first year with the Lions, Reader recorded a career-high three sacks along with 23 total tackles, receiving a 66.5 overall grade per PFF. Although his numbers have been down this season with only four total tackles, it’s evident that he continues to have an impact on the game.
Reader, 31, has been a blessing for Detroit even with the inconsistencies of first-round pick Tyleik Williams. He also has time to unleash his power in these upcoming games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Bengals, as all three rank outside the top ten in rushing yards per game. If Reader continues his performance, he'll continue to show his worth and possibly extend his stay in Detroit after this season.