The Detroit Lions had the NFL’s second-ranked rush protection final season, and there’s purpose to imagine they’ll be even higher in 2024.
The Lions signed former Cincinnati Bengals nostril sort out D.J. Reader to a two-year free agent deal Thursday, the fourth vital addition they’ve made to their protection this offseason.
At 6 ft 3 and 335 kilos, Reader was thought of among the best run stoppers obtainable in free company and will begin subsequent to Alim McNeill in the midst of the Lions line of defense this fall.
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“Generally issues don’t work out in relationships and you have to transfer on,” Reeder instructed reporters Thursday. “I’m on to a greater alternative that I am actually, actually exited about.”
Reeder had 34 tackles and one sack final season, however completed the yr on injured reserve with a torn proper quad tendon. He additionally tore his left quad in 2020, and missed six video games with a knee damage in 2022.
Reeder, who turns 30 in July, mentioned he is “somewhat bit forward of” the place he was in his restoration from his first quad damage and expects to be prepared for the beginning of the common season.
“I feel my physique understanding what’s happening this time makes it loads simpler for me, after which simply the place my mindset is,” he mentioned. “We have been in the midst of COVID final time. Not solely was it a miserable time for me, it was a miserable time for the world. We didn’t know what was happening.
“So this time it’s been much more full of life. I am round my household, every little thing’s going effectively and simply the grind, I do know what it takes, I do know what it’s going to really feel like. My physique’s extra acquainted about what’s happening, how I am reacting, all that stuff. So I wouldn’t say it’s been a stroll within the park trigger rehab’s all the time powerful. It’s all the time one of many hardest issues ever, however I feel it’s been good seeing development daily and I’m pleased the place I’m at.”
Reader had among the best seasons of his profession after his final quad damage, when he had 43 tackles and two sacks to assist the Bengals attain the Tremendous Bowl.
He drew parallels Thursday to that season and the scenario he is moving into in Detroit.
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The Lions are coming off a 12-5 season by which they reached the NFC championship recreation, however entered free company decided to improve their protection. They return three starters up entrance, McNeill, Aidan Hutchinson and John Cominsky, plus high backup Josh Paschal, however let backup edge rushers Romeo Okwara and Charles Harris check free company and didn’t tender nostril sort out Benito Jones a contract as a restricted free agent.
The Lions additionally signed defensive finish Marcus Davenport in free company, traded for cornerback Carlton Davis and signed nook Amik Robertson.
“I feel they’re forward of the place I used to be after I bought (to Cincinnati),” Reader mentioned. “I used to be telling them upstairs, these guys bought that very same style within the mouth that I bought. I bought to a Tremendous Bowl and misplaced. These guys bought to an NFC championship and misplaced, and so all people on this constructing has that very same purpose to go get that style out of their mouth. And I’m so ecstatic about that half. I might run by a wall about it proper now, trigger you don’t get time to proper these wrongs and this is a chance and I don’t assume we’re going to take it evenly as a workforce to go on the market and do our factor.”
A fifth-round decide by the Houston Texans in 2016, Reader spent the previous 4 seasons in Cincinnati, the place he had 123 tackles, three sacks and began all 44 video games he performed.
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He was a two-time captain for the Bengals and ranked eleventh out of 130 inside defensive lineman by Professional Soccer Focus final season, when he had 10 quarterback pressures, the second-most of his profession.
Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin mentioned he is trying ahead to seeing how the brand new defensive additions impression the Lions protection this fall.
“I feel it’ll be good,” he mentioned. “I really feel like everybody’s all the time simply type of rowing in the identical path right here. Can’t wait to get these guys on board and everybody begin placing that work in collectively and attempt to take it additional than we did final yr.”
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Comply with him@davebirkett.