D.J. Reader

Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman D.J. Reader drives the Los Angeles Rams off the goal line with his sack of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.

DT DJ Reader speaks to the media following the Packers-Bengals joint practice on Wednesday, August 9, 2023.

DT DJ Reader speaks to the media after Training Camp on Monday, July 31, 2023.

DT DJ Reader speaks to the media on Wednesday, January 4 2023.

Learn how DT DJ Reader and the Bengals defense were Better Together against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15 of the 2022 season.

DT DJ Reader speaks to the media after the Bengals beat the Browns 23-10 in Week 14 of the 2022 season.

DT DJ Reader talks about his first game back since Week 3.

DT DJ Reader talks about how his father has impacted his life and his career.

Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell forces key Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz fumble into defensive tackle D.J. Reader's grasp.

Bengals players and Zac Taylor reflect on the 2021 season and look forward to Unfinished Business.

Members of the Cincinnati Bengals react to their teammates Madden 23 ratings.

Tune into the Medical Mutual Training Camp Report with Dan Hoard, Dave Lapham and DJ Reader

DT DJ Reader talks getting new guys on the team, being excited about OTAs and bonding his the team.

Cincinnati Bengals DT DJ Reader talks the offseason, his relationship with his mom, and his name preferences.

Watch every sack and tackle for loss made by the Cincinnati Bengals' defense in Super Bowl LVI.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle D.J. Reader sacks Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.

NFL Network's James Palmer reveals the one free-agent domino that began the Cincinnati Bengals' 'transformation' in the 2019 NFL regular season.

Defensive tackle D.J. Reader talked to reporters about going through Super Bowl preparation and why the Bengals have the right mentality of a championship team.

Watch the best Cincinnati Bengals defensive plays vs. Titans during the Divisional Round of the 2021 playoffs.

Defensive tackle D.J. Reader talked about the challenges facing the Titans rushing offense, overcoming the loss of Larry Ogunjobi and the bond the team has in the locker room.

The playoffs are here! Get hyped Who Dey Nation. Bengals vs. Raiders at Paul Brown Stadium in the Wild Card round.

In the latest Better Together, a look at how defensive tackles B.J. Hill, D.J. Reader and Larry Ogunjobi apply strength in the pass rush. Presented by Fifth Third Bank.

In the latest GEICO Locker Room, defensive tackle D.J. Reader discussed the importance of run defense and how the Bengals are looking ahead to Week 14 versus the San Francisco 49ers.

Defensive Tackle D.J. Reader chatted with media members ahead of the Week 14 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

Get to know defensive tackle D.J. Reader in the latest Know Your Pro, presented by Gatorade.

The Joe Burrow Bengals desperately needed their first spark of 2023 Monday night and as so often has happened during these four seasons, it came from the other side of the ball. And as has happened more often than not in these four seasons, David Vernon Reader Jr., otherwise known as DJ, father of Rocky Reader, has been the defense's spark.

As Sunday night's Wild Card Game at Paycor Stadium looms (8:15-Cincinnati's Channel 5) Ruler of the Jungle and former wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, breaks down the greatness of Ja'Marr Chase's strength in the face of Baltimore's staple physicality. Plus, D.J. Reader and linebackers coach James Bettcher explain what makes the Ravens run. 

The NFL announced that QB Joe Burrow, WR Ja'Marr Chase and DE Trey Hendrickson have been voted to the AFC team for the 2023 Pro Bowl Games.

The bigger the game the more piles around the locker of David Vernon Reader, the man who has stiffened the spine against the run in these last two Bengals playoff runs. Be assured playbooks, game plans, sweats, cruise ship-sized shower shoes and a voracious commitment to defend the AFC North are strewn about for Sunday (1 p.m.-Cincinnati's Local 12) at Paycor Stadium against his old teammate Deshaun Watson, the Browns' elite guards and estimable running game.

The topic is Hayden Hurst after last Sunday's six catches kept him on pace with an ancient Bengals tight ends receiving record and currently kept him within one of the great Travis Kelce's 18 third-down catches that lead all NFL tight ends. But that's not the first thing that comes to the mind of tight ends coach James Casey.

Off one of its best practices Thursday since coordinator Lou Anarumo arrived with head coach Zac Taylor four seasons ago, the Bengals defense flexed its muscles heading into Sunday's game in Pittsburgh (4:25 p.m.-Cincinnati's Local 12) preparing for Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett and his rejuvenated run game with hopefully the return of captain D.J. Reader.

As usual, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow got off a few good one-liners in Wednesday's news conference looking ahead to Sunday's game (4:25 p.m.-Cincinnati's Channel 120) in Pittsburgh.

Happy Michael J. Thomas Day. A year ago Tuesday during the Bengals bye week, Thomas, the vet safety and special teams maven, signed to the roster from the practice squad and got ready for a stretch run that saw him become a calming influence on a young team about to shock the world on the way to the Super Bowl. Now a special teams captain, there's no one better to ask about the difference between last year's 5-4 at the bye and this one's 5-4 when the season re-commences Sunday (4:25 p.m.-Cincinnati's Local 12) in Pittsburgh.

It's a short week at Paycor Stadium with the undefeated Dolphins coming to town Thursday (8:15 p.m.—Cincinnati's Channel 9), so even though there was no practice on Monday Bengals nose tackle D.J Reader (knee) was listed on an estimated injury report as did not practice.

His Bengals are 0-2, but here are two pretty good reasons why head coach Zac Taylor isn't worried about his team imploding before the AFC North race even begins. Two of his captains in the middle of it all. D.J. Reader and Ted Karras.

Bengals running back Joe Mixon, off a 1,205-yard career season, says he should have rushed for at least 1,600 yards and scored 23 touchdowns. Prepping for Sunday's opener at Paycor Stadium (1 p.m.-Cincinnati's Local 12) against the Steelers, Mixon went back to a run last year in Pittsburgh he says should have popped for a big one instead of one for about ten.

D.J. Reader, the Bengals' game-wrecking nose tackle (See the AFC Divisional in Tennessee) who thinks he's the best in the league, credits the youth of the defensive line for invigorating things up front this training camp.

The Bengals quietly handed out their 2021 AFC championship rings to players, coaches and staff during the work day Thursday at Paul Brown Stadium. And it matched the classy understated piece that caught Caroline Blackburn's eye when she went through her grandmother's jewelry box.

David J. Reader goes by DJ and this week he said he prefers no periods next to the D and the J. But there has been no abbreviation for what he has meant to this rise of the Bengals in the 2020s. He agrees: "Best defense nobody knows."

Best of the Zoom news conferences before the Bengals practiced on Thursday ahead of their Super Bowl LVI berth on Feb. 13 in Los Angles at SoFi Stadium.

Check out the postgame quotes from head coach Zac Taylor, quarterback Joe Burrow and the Bengals after a 19-16 win over the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Divisional Round.

If the nine sacks didn't tell Joe Burrow this thing called playoff football is different, then the meeting head coach Zac Taylor convened the night before Saturday's AFC Divisional against the top-seeded Titans did for even the unflappable Burrow.

When the Bengals began rebuilding their tattered run defense in the 2020 offseason by giving D.J. Reader and Vonn Bell two of their biggest free-agent deals ever, the Paul Brown Stadium 2019 opener that served as the first home game for head coach Zac Taylor and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo against Kyle Shanahan's crafty run scheme was very much on their minds.

It's the "Get Ready" edition of the Bengals Booth Podcast with FOX Sports analyst Daryl Johnston previewing the game against the Detroit Lions. Also, an interview with defensive tackle D.J. Reader, analysis and #AskLap questions with Dave Lapham and "Know Your Foe" with "Locked On Lions" host Matt Dery.

While the Bengals offense regrouped, their defense went into Sunday's first division game of the season in Pittsburgh (1 p.m.-Cincinnati's Channel 12) better suited for an AFC North slugfest than at any time in head coach Zac Taylor's tenure. 

The Bengals introduced their new uniforms that saluted their 20th century roots Monday morning during a blaze of 21st century media featuring players modeling seven of a possible nine ensembles in a slick video rather than on an improvised runway. Take a good look at the seven models and that's also a new brand of leadership easing into their big shoes.

Check out the best photos of Bengals defensive tackles from Media Day 2023.

See which Bengals were selected for the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Check out what the Bengals are wearing for the My Cause My Cleats game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 13 of the 2022 season, presented by CareSource. Visit bengals.com/cleats to learn more about each cause.

Check out which Bengals were nominated for the 2023 Pro Bowl Games!

Check out the best of DE Joseph Ossai, DE Khalid Kareem, DT B.J. Hill, DE Sam Hubbard, DT Zach Carter, DE Jeff Gunter, and DT DJ Reader,

Believe it or not, the Bengals new uniforms were released a year ago. Look back at the New Strips launch.

Presented by Tide, check out the Bengals new uniforms from the team's photo shoot. This marks the Bengals' first major uniform change in 17 years, and the fourth significant uniform redesign in team history.

Take a look at some of the top images of Bengals defensive tackle D.J. Reader from the 2020 season.