The Detroit Lions have yet to make a major move in free agency, but they are intrigued in one of the best remaining defenders on the market. According to Malik Wright, the Lions will host former Bengals defensive tackle DJ Reader on a visit Thursday.
The Lions have been linked to Reader since the start of free agency negotiations, and with good cause. Reader is a dominant interior defender who has been incredibly reliable against the run while also causing significant disruption in the passing game. Despite having only 9.5 career sacks after eight seasons, he has delivered at least 32 pressures in four of the last five seasons, according to PFF.
The Lions are most likely interested in bringing Reader in for a medical check rather than signing him right away. The defender missed the last three games of the 2023 season after hurting his quadriceps in Week 15.
“I feel like I’ve got a lot of good ball left in me,” Reader remarked in January. “I mean, I feel like this was one of my best years, and I don’t want to finish it that way. I’ve got a lot left in me; just rehab it and get back.”
The injury necessitated surgery, so if the Lions want to spend heavily in Reader, they’ll need to know where he is in terms of general health and recuperation. Reader tore his second quad early in the 2020 season, but went on to have one of his most productive years in 2021.
