The Detroit Lions will gather for their first round of mandatory OTA workouts next week, and many players will have something on the line. While some will be working to round back into form, others will be competing for their jobs against a group of eager rookies and free agent signings.
One of the players on the bubble is heading into an interesting offseason program. As a potential cut candidate, he’s looking to put his best foot forward by showing up to the voluntary portion of the program and getting off on the right foot heading into next week’s workouts.
Lions DT DJ Reader Declares This Offseason His ‘Healthiest in a Minute’
Lions defensive tackle DJ Reader has been a mainstay at the Lions’ voluntary workouts this offseason as he enters the second year of a two-year, $27.25 million contract signed last offseason. While other veterans usually skip this portion, Reader has been there from the start as he looks to prove his clean bill of health.
“It was probably my healthiest offseason in a minute, when I haven’t gotten cut open or anything happened. So I think just sticking to the routine of just working,” Reader said on Thursday via Kory Woods of MLive. “I think, like you said, I go to the couple offseasons when I was healthy. Knowing that I can explore a couple of different things this year with being healthy – like when you’re in that rehab phase, you’re just rushing back. I think in this league and every other professional sport – or even in business – just life, old dogs got to learn new tricks. You might have your routine, but you got to learn something new to figure it out to stay around. So I think that’s what you do.”
Reader also cited his workout bonus and new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard as reasons he showed up to the voluntary workouts. But the biggest reason may be to fend off any competition for his job.
The Lions made improving the interior of the defensive line a priority this offseason. They re-signed Levi Onwuzurike and added Roy Lopez in free agency before they tripled down by adding Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams with their first-round pick in last month’s draft. While Alim McNeil’s availability for the start of next season is uncertain after tearing his ACL last December, Reader may have to hold off multiple threats for his job during OTAs.
The good news for Reader is that he won’t have to deal with an injury to start the year. After missing the season opener while recovering from a torn quadriceps suffered with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023, Reader returned the following week and made 23 total tackles with four tackles for loss and three sacks in 15 games. The Athletic’s Colton Pouncey also noted that Reader “was a calming voice amid chaos” as 13 players wound up on season-ending injured reserve.
Reader noted that continuity should help ease the transition to Sheppard as he replaces Aaron Glenn, who departed to become head coach of the New York Jets this offseason. But he also needs to perform more like the player he was in Cincinnati, where he made 34 tackles with a sack and 34 quarterback pressures on 314 pass-rushing snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
If setting a solid foundation during voluntary workouts helps Reader, it should carry over into OTAs and help the 30-year-old hold off any competition for his roster spot.