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Detroit Lions defensive lineman DJ Reader (98) during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 15, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)

D.J. Reader

DL

#98

Experience: 10 years

Height: 6-3

Age: 30

Weight: 335 lbs

College: Clemson

2024 SEASON

  • Solo
    10
  • SCK
    3
  • FF
    0
  • INT
    --
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Recent Games

WK OPP RESULT TKL AST COMBINED SOLO SCK SFTY PDEF INT YDS AVG LNG TDS FF OPP FR
13 Bears W 23 - 20 2 2 4 2 2 0 0 0
14 Packers W 34 - 31
15 Bills L 42 - 48
16 @Bears W 34 - 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
17 @49ers W 40 - 34 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0
18 Vikings W 31 - 9 1 2 3 1 0 0 0 0
1 Rams W 26 - 20
2 Buccaneers L 16 - 20 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
3 @Cardinals W 20 - 13 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
4 Seahawks W 42 - 29 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0
6 @Cowboys W 47 - 9 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0
7 @Vikings W 31 - 29 2 0 2 2 0 0 0 0
8 Titans W 52 - 14 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0
9 @Packers W 24 - 14
10 @Texans W 26 - 23 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0
11 Jaguars W 52 - 6 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0
12 @Colts W 24 - 6 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0

Career Stats

Defense Career

SEASON TEAM G GS TKL AST COMBINED SOLO SCK SFTY PDEF INT YDS AVG LNG TDS FF OPP FR
2016 Houston Texans 16 7 7 15 22 6 1 0 1 0
2017 Houston Texans 14 14 23 24 47 21 1 0 0 0
2018 Houston Texans 16 16 23 10 33 16 2 0 0 0
2019 Houston Texans 15 15 28 24 52 23 2.5 0 0 0
2020 Cincinnati Bengals 5 5 8 11 19 8 0 0 2 0
2021 Cincinnati Bengals 15 15 22 21 43 18 2 0 0 0
2022 Cincinnati Bengals 10 10 18 9 27 10 0 0 4 1 2
2023 Cincinnati Bengals 14 14 20 14 34 16 1 0 1 0 1
2024 Detroit Lions 15 15 11 12 23 10 3 0 1 0
TOTAL 120 111 160 140 300 128 12.5 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 1 3

Biography

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

  • Signed with the Detroit Lions in 2024 after spending four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals (2021-24) and four seasons with the Houston Texans (2016-20).
  • Has recorded 3.0 sacks in the 2024 season so far, a new single-season career high.
  • In Week 13 vs. the Bears, he produced four tackles (two solo), three quarterback hits two tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. He is Detroit's first interior defensive lineman to produce three quarterback hits and 2.0 sacks in a game at Ford Field since Ndamukong Suh vs. Chicago on Sept. 29, 2013.
  • Has appeared in 105 career games (96 starts), totaling 277 tackles (149 solo), 44 quarterback hits, 23 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, eight pass defenses, three fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble.
  • Bengals Team Captain (2022-24).
  • Produced the 11th-best overall PFF grade (82.2) among all NFL defensive tackles in 2023.
  • Produced the sixth-best overall PFF grade (85.2) among all NFL defensive tackles in 2022.
  • Produced the ninth-best overall PFF grade (79.5) among all NFL defensive tackles in 2021.
  • Produced the fifth-best overall PFF grade (85.4) and the fifth-best PFF run-defense grade (85.1) among all NFL defensive tackles in 2019.
  • Started and played 45 snaps in Super Bowl LVI vs. L.A. Rams, recording three quarterback hits, one tackle for loss, and 1.0 sack.

COLLEGE

  • Played four seasons at Clemson (2012-15), where he recorded 145 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. He became the second tiger to letter on top-25 football and baseball teams in one academic year (2012-13).
  • Played in the 2016 Senior Bowl.
  • 2015 Team Captain.

PERSONAL

  • Played football, basketball and baseball at Grimsley High School (Greensboro, N.C.), earning an all-region selection for baseball, as well as the team's MVP in his junior and senior seasons (2011, 2012).
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