Former Cincinnati Bengals players haven’t made a bunch of noise in recent weeks (remember Logan Wilson playing for the Dallas Cowboys, for example?). 

But DJ Reader just changed that. 

Reader took some heat from Detroit Lions fans on social media in the aftermath of his team’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16. 

Said heat included poking fun at the Bengals, which Reader wasn’t too happy about: 

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It’s a fun little note, if nothing else. From an outsider’s perspective, Reader and the Bengals didn’t have the nicest split when he left in free agency to join the Lions a few years ago. 

At the time, the Bengals letting Reader slip away was not a popular move in the eyes of fans, regardless of his injuries. The attention has since rightfully shifted to letting Jessie Bates get away being the much bigger mistake, but Reader’s going to remain beloved by Bengals fans, too. 

Exchanges like this? They certainly help.

D.J. Reader responding to a Lions fan saying that he brings “Bungals energy” to their defense:

“I went to a (Super) Bowl in Cincy relax” pic.twitter.com/gTJHKnAJBk

— SleeperBengals (@SleeperBengals) December 22, 2025

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