Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard talks with defensive lineman DJ Reader after day two of the Detroit Lions Training Camp on Monday, July 21, 2025 at the team’s training facility in Allen Park.Jake May | MLive.com
ALLEN PARK — Among the offseason decisions the Detroit Lions face, the future of D.J. Reader in the Honolulu Blue and Silver is one.
The 31-year-old defensive lineman, who signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the Lions in 2024, heads into the 2026 offseason as an unrestricted free agent and with an uncertain future in Detroit.
His two seasons with the Lions have had highs and lows, and his contributions as an interior pass rusher and run defender have been mixed. While the Lions have not made any decisions regarding their upcoming free agents, Reader was clear about his desire to continue his career in Detroit.
“I enjoy my time here,” Reader told MLive. “I know people see the tweets and the beef that me and fans get on a little bit online, but I truly enjoy my time here, man. I enjoy the people, man. I enjoy the locker room, man, coaches I’m around, players I’m around, man. And being honest, I’m tired of moving, so that all plays into it. But I like it here, man.
“You don’t really go to a lot of places where you got a true chance to win, man. We had that chance. It didn’t quite go our way this year, but we got that chance every year. We got a quarterback. We’ve got some good star players. We’re young. So it’s been a good fortunate time.”
The 10-year veteran is one of a few players in the Lions locker room with both playoff and Super Bowl experience from his time with the Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals, respectively. Reader said he doesn’t feel the Lions are far from reaching its ultimate goal bringing a Lombardi Trophy to Detroit.
Taking a page from Lions coach Dan Campbell, the veteran defender said they were a couple of plays away from achieving their goals in the past two seasons.
“I feel like we just lost a couple that we shouldn’t have this year that we kind of let get away from us,” Reader said. “But I just feel like if we get in that tournament, we make some noise because last night was special. It was special just seeing how we went out there and played as a union, as a group. And even though there’s nothing to play for, how hard the guys fought for the person next to him. Because the way I loved the game, man, it made me happy. It almost brings tears to your eyes, like in pre-game, because you never know when it’s going to be the last one.
“But for me, somebody who just truly loves the game, loves the physicality, and always just going to go out there and put it on the line for their brothers next to him, it just made me so happy seeing guys celebrate with each other, be happy for your genuine, just excitement. All the pressure’s off. You know what I’m saying? All that pressure, and it feels just like Friday Night Lights again when you’re a kid just out there playing. And it was cool. It was cool to watch. And it was amazing that we got it done that way.”
The Lions face an important decision regarding their defensive line. Fifth-year veteran Alim McNeill and rookie Tyleik Williams are both under contract for the next few seasons. But the Lions must decide whether to bring back Reader and/or Roy Lopez.
Reader started all 17 games this season, but his numbers dipped in quarterback hits (four) and sacks (zero). It was the first time he finished a season without a tackle for loss. Reader had 28 tackles and four quarterback hits.
In comparison, Lopez, who didn’t log a single start for the first time in his five-year career, logged 30 tackles, five quarterback hits, four tackles for a loss, two sacks, and a pass deflection.
And Lopez achieved that feat in 158 fewer snaps than Reader.
The veteran defender knows Lions coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes have roster decisions to make, but Reader doubled down on his desire to remain in Detroit because of what is part of it.
“It’s just a unique place, man. It’s a team that’s overcome a lot and really grown to have expectations instead of people thinking on what they should do in the other way in others ways,” Reader said. “And I think the players. The players always make a locker room, man. The coaches are going to be what it was, but the players always make a locker room.
“We got a lot of guys in here, who may be future Hall of Famers, who just take everything in stride and really go out there and put it on the line, and that’s special.”
Should the Lions decide to move on from Reader, he’ll be free to sign elsewhere, but $3.729 million of dead cap will remain on their books as part of his prorated $6.215 million signing bonus.
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