‘A son never forgets:’ Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle DJ Reader takes us home
Cincinnati Bengals nose tackle DJ Reader takes The Enquirer home to Greensboro, North Carolina, in this feature profiling the star defensive lineman.
Kareem Elgazzar, Cincinnati Enquirer
Lions nose tackle DJ Reader defended his former team, the Cincinnati Bengals, on social media.Reader responded to a user who blamed him for a loss by noting he went to a Super Bowl with Cincinnati.The Lions lost to the Steelers 29-24 after a game-winning touchdown was negated by an offensive pass interference penalty.
Detroit Lions‘ nose tackle DJ Reader might no longer play for the Cincinnati Bengals, but it appears he’s still defending his former team.
Following the Lions’ 29-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 21, Reader clapped back at a social media user who said Reader brought the “Bungals energy to the Lions,” causing the team to lose to his former AFC North rival.
The 31-year-old replied to the social media user, telling the person to “relax,” because he went to a Super Bowl with Cincinnati. Reader was part of the 2021 team that fell to the Los Angeles Rams 23-20. It was the first time Cincinnati had been to the Super Bowl since 1989.
Reader has played for three teams since entering the NFL in 2016. He joined the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020 after a four-year stint with the Houston Texans. He also spent four years in the Queen City (2021-24) before joining the Detroit Lions in 2024.
He is the Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for the Lions for 2025.
How did the Lions-Steelers Week 16 game end?
The Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers game Sunday ended in absolute chaos.
The Lions suffered a crushing defeat in Week 16, losing 29-24 to the Steelers at Ford Field.
But the final play ended with a Lions touchdown for the win. Or so we thought. However, the Lions (8-7) were called for offensive pass interference by receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
The penalty negated the fourth-and-goal touchdown from the 9-yard line − a crazy lateral from St. Brown to quarterback Jared Goff, after it looked like St. Brown had been stopped well short of the goal line − and ended the game in stunning fashion.
Because of the offensive pass interference, the game was able to end on a penalty, referee Carl Cheffers explained.
“By rule, that penalty is not enforced and there is no replay, the game is over,” Cheffers, in his 26th year in the NFL, said over the Ford Field sound system. “There is no touchdown. OPI on number 14 negates the penalty; there is no replay, the game is over.”
The finish dropped the Lions’ playoff odds to 6% with two games left. They next play on Thursday, Christmas Day, at the Minnesota Vikings.
Detroit Free Press reporter Marlowe Alter contributed to this report.