There was some hope ahead of the Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Rams that Detroit Lions defensive lineman D.J. Reader might be able to play. Ultimately, the Lions played it safe and sat him out.
Head coach Dan Campbell said before the start of the season that the goal was to get Reader on the field in Week 2, and it looks like the Lions will hit that goal.
According to ESPN's Eric Woodyard, Reader told reporters that he's ready to go for the upcoming contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
"I'm excited about where I'm at. I'm excited just to get out there with the guys," he said. "The crowd was amazing last week, the energy was great so I'm excited."
#Lions' DJ Reader (quad) says he's ready to go Sunday vs Tampa Bay. He hasn't played since Week 15 last season. "I'm excited about where I'm at. I'm excited just to get out there with the guys," he said. "The crowd was amazing last week, the energy was great so I'm excited."
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) September 11, 2024
Reader last played in Week 15 of last season with the Cincinnati Bengals, when he tore his quadriceps, leading to his missing the rest of the season. It was the second torn quadriceps Reader had suffered during his career, with the other coming in 2020.
Reader, who signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the Lions in free agency, didn't get much practice time during the offseason because he was working his way back from the injury.
But he was able to get in three limited sessions last week, and we should expect to see an uptick in participation this week as he prepares for his highly anticipated return to the field in Week 2. He'll likely be on a pitch count, though.
