HOUSTON – Since D.J. Reader joined the Cincinnati Bengals three years ago, he has accomplished many things.
The former Texans’ standout defensive tackle has made it to a Super Bowl, won consecutive AFC North division crowns and advanced to conference title games two years in a row.
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Coming off a narrow AFC championship game loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs after a 12-4 regular season, the Bengals are well-positioned to make another run. Headlined by quarterback Joe Burrow and a high-powered offense with wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and running back Joe Mixon, the Bengals had the seventh-ranked offense and a sixth-ranked defense led by linebacker Logan Wilson, Trey Hendrickson, Vonn Bell, Sam Hubbard and Reader.
Signing a four-year, $53 million free agent deal with the Bengals after excelling for the Texans has proven to be a wise decision for Reader.
“It’s going good, I can’t complain,” Reader told KPRC 2 while attending a charity dodgeball event at Pitch 25 in Houston. “Offseason is going great, trying to get better. We’ve got to earn it every year.
“We’re just working hard. I feel like we have all the right pieces. You’ve got to go out there and execute every day, and we’re seeing how important it is to execute.”
#Bengals @bengals defensive tackle D.J. Reader @Djread98 at Ultimate Dopest Charity Dodgeball Challenge @BoomMandI @VanguardSG @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/Aufzp8Y3xI
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 24, 2023
One of the stoutest interior defensive linemen in the game, Reader has 243 career tackles, 8 1/2 sacks, 21 tackles for losses and 37 quarterback hits.
Reader is entering the final year of his contract and is a candidate for a contract extension. A former fifth-round draft pick from Clemson, Reader had 27 tackles, five quarterback hits, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 10 starts after returning from a knee injury last season. He had 43 tackles, two sacks and three tackles for losses two seasons ago.
“It’s been solid, I can’t complain,” Reader said. “It’s been good, team has been good.”
With the Texans, Reader (6-foot-3, 347 pounds) had a career-high 52 tackles, six tackles for losses and 2 1/2 sacks in his final season in Houston before joining the Bengals.
“I’ll always have love here, the team that drafted me and let me play the game that I love,” Reader said. “I’ve got love and respect and the opportunity I have. It’s always going to be my roots here. I’m always here. I’m always in the city. I’m always around.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
