Lions defensive tackle DJ Reader not likely to play Sunday night vs. Rams

After some optimism he might be able to suit up Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams, it looks like DJ Reader's Detroit Lions' debut will indeed wait until Week 2.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network early Sunday morning, Reader is "not quite ready" to play this week and "next week is a more realistic timeline."

The Lions signed Reader to a two-year deal in March, knowing he was only a few months removed from a torn right quad tendon that ended his 2023 season with the Cincinnati Bengals. He missed all of training camp on the PUP list, but after he was removed from the list at roster cuts head coach Dan Campbell revealed the goal was for Reader was Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

All week this past week though, Campbell conveyed optimism Reader might be able to play on Sunday night.

DJ Reader most likely to make his Lions' debut in Week 2 vs. Tampa Bay

In recent years, under the current regime, the Lions have a history of slow-playing recoveries from significant injuries. If Reader was going to play Sunday night against the Rams, he was sure to be on some kind of snap count. It would seem his odds of playing a full complement of snaps get better by holding him out a week.

The roster moves the Lions made on Saturday, adding interior defensive line depth by signing defensive tackle Chris Smith to the active roster and elevating nose tackle Kyle Peko to the active roster from the practice squad, basically revealed that Reader was unlikely to play Sunday night. Peko's elevation was an easily expected move for this week, with the expectation Reader would see limited action if he did play, while Smith being added to the 53-man roster was more surprising.

So it looks like Reader's Lions debut, as has always seem most likely and was eventually the publicly stated goal, will come in Week 2.