DJ Reader
IL/DT DET (8)
Tue 11/26/24 5:28 PM

Reader (illness) was listed as a full practice participant on Tuesday's estimated injury report.
EDGE Analysis
Reader was under the weather Monday, which caused him to be listed as a DNP. However, he was able to participate in Tuesday's walkthrough without limitations and should be good to go against the Bears on Thursday. In the seven regular-season games since the Lions' Week 5 bye, Reader has logged 11 tackles (seven solo).

DJ Reader
IL/DT DET (8)
Mon 11/25/24 4:14 PM

Reader (illness) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's practice estimation, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
EDGE Analysis
Reader appears to be dealing with an illness following the Lions' Week 12 win over the Colts, and he'll likely need to practice in a limited capacity either Tuesday or Wednesday in order to play in Thursday's divisional matchup against the Bears. If the first-year Lion is unable to do so, Levi Onwuzurike and Mekhi Wingo could see additional work with Detroit's first-team defensive line.

DJ Reader
IL/DT DET (8)
Wed 9/11/24 5:18 PM

Reader (quadriceps) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
EDGE Analysis
Reader was limited in all three practices leading up to Week 1 against the Rams, but he did not end up suiting up for Sunday's game. His full participation Wednesday indicates that the 2016 fifth-round pick should make his regular-season debut against the Buccaneers in Week 2.

DJ Reader
IL/DT DET (8)
Sun 9/8/24 11:14 AM

Reader (quad) is out for Sunday's game versus the Rams, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
EDGE Analysis
Reader seems to be close to returning from the quadriceps tear he suffered late last season, but he'll have to wait at least one more week to get back into action. Kyle Peko could see an increase in snaps with Reader unavailable.

DJ Reader
IL/DT DET (8)
Fri 9/6/24 4:53 PM

Reader (quadriceps) was a limited participant for Friday's practice and is questionable for Detroit's Week 1 game against the Rams, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Reader is still in the late stages of his recovery from the quadriceps tear he suffered in Week 15 of last season. The 6-foot-3 defensive tackle has been a limited participant in each of the Lions' practices this week, so his status will likely be revealed Sunday morning.

DJ Reader
IL/DT DET (8)
Thu 9/5/24 5:24 PM

Reader (quadricep) was listed as a limited participant for Thursday's practice session.
EDGE Analysis
Reader is in the final stages of his recovery from a torn quadriceps injury he sustained in Week 15 of the 2023 season against Minnesota. The 2016 fifth-round pick was able to pass his physical in late August and come off the active/PUP list, but his status for the Lions' regular-season opener against the Rams on Sunday is still in the air. If Reader is unable to suit up for Week 1, expect Levi Onwuzurike and Mekhi Wingo to see an increased snap count at defensive tackle alongside starter Alim McNeill.

DJ Reader
IL/DT DET (8)
Mon 8/26/24 3:14 PM

Reader (quadriceps), who was initially targeting a Week 2 return, has a chance to play in Detroit's Week 1 contest against the Rams, Colton Pouncy of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Reader has been managing a quadriceps injury since December, but he was removed from Detroit's active/PUP list Sunday after passing his physical. The 30-year-old nose tackle could play a significant role in the Lions' Week 1 outing if he's available, as Detroit is matching up with a Rams offense that averaged 117.4 rushing yards per game in 2023.

DJ Reader
IL/DT DET (8)
Sun 8/25/24 3:46 PM

Reader (quadriceps) was activated from the Lions' active/PUP list Sunday after passing his physical.
EDGE Analysis
Reader ended 2023 on the Bengals' injured reserve after tearing his quadriceps in Week 15 against the Vikings. He missed OTAs and minicamp and began training camp on the Lions' PUP list, but he appears to have fully recovered from the injury and will work on getting up to speed ahead of Week 1 against the Rams on Sept. 8. Reader recorded 34 tackles (20 solo), including 1.0 sacks, one pass defended and one fumble recovery across 14 regular-season games in 2023.

DJ Reader
IL/DT DET (8)
Tue 7/30/24 7:05 PM

Reader, who was placed on the active/PUP list July 21 as he continues to recover from a torn quadriceps, said Tuesday that he's not sure when he will return to training camp, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
If Reader were to be placed on the reserve/PUP list, he would be forced to miss the Lions' first four games of the regular season. Reader missed the last three games of 2023 after tearing his quadriceps in Week 15 against the Vikings. He finished the season with 34 tackles (20 solo), including 1.0 sacks, one pass defended and one fumble recovery across 14 regular-season games as a member of the Bengals.

DJ Reader
IL/DT DET (8)
Sun 7/21/24 5:01 PM

Detroit placed Reader (quadriceps) on its active/PUP list Sunday, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
EDGE Analysis
As expected, Reader will begin training camp on the PUP list as he continues to recover from a torn quadriceps he picked up with the Bengals in the 2023 season. Coach Dan Campbell said that Reader would "take a minute" to be back in playing shape, so it's still unclear at this point whether he'll be active for Week 1.