Bengals' DJ Reader officially out for the season with quad injury
Déjà vu hit Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle DJ Reader hard Saturday afternoon when he left the field on the back of a cart. NFL Media's Ian Rapoport not only confirmed the news that Reader's season was over years ago, it was due to a torn quad tendon in his right leg. He suffered the same season-ending […]
Déjà vu hit Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle DJ Reader hard Saturday afternoon when he left the field on the back of a cart.
NFL Media's Ian Rapoport not only confirmed the news that Reader's season was over years ago, it was due to a torn quad tendon in his right leg. He suffered the same season-ending injury back in 2020 in his left leg.
Though it occurred in different limbs, Reader suffering two torn quads in just over three years is quite the coincidence. If nothing else, he knows the exact recovery path.
Reader was just five games into his Bengals career when his 2020 season ended prematurely. He was 26 at the time and had three more years remaining on his $53 million contract he signed just months prior. His road back to playing was quick enough to get him on the field to not only start the following season, but have a dominant year anchoring the Bengals' defensive line.
Reader will turn 30 in July, and he'll be on a new contract by then. The multi-million dollar question is which team will be the one to give it to him. Cincinnati has established a reputation for hesitance towards pursuing players asking for lucrative third contracts, specifically around the age of 30. The caliber of player and leader Reader is made him a possible exception to this trend. Another major injury being added to his ledger only complicates the situation more.
Would the Bengals compete for Reader's services when he's not close to full health? Will Reader's market in general dwindle due to the injury and his medical history?
These are questions for the coming months.
For now, Reader will embark on yet another long recovery as the Bengals look to press on without him.
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