Detroit Lions DT DJ Reader revealed this week that he had a scope surgery back in June.
The Detroit Lions have been mum on when they expect defensive tackle DJ Reader to be back after rehabbing from a torn quad suffered last December. The last update from coach Dan Campbell was that he was “on schedule,” and Reader had said at training camp that he was hoping to be taken off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list by the start of the regular season.
On Monday, Reader spoke to media at a community event for his “A Son Never Forgets” charity foundation. While he did not give a firm timetable of when he expects to return , he did offer an interesting update about his rehab process. Specifically, he noted that back in June, his rehab was delayed by a necessary scope procedure.
“Kind of had a lull in like June, where things just weren’t shaking the way I really thought (it would), so I ended up having to get a scope,” Reader said on the Lone Wolves podcast .
Obviously, if Campbell believed Reader was still on schedule at the start of camp, this scope surgery did not set the defensive tackle back significantly. But it speaks to his resilience in his rehab process. And if you hear the man talk, even though he admitted the process “sucks” his positive outlook was likely a big asset throughout.
“All I really know is the work. I don’t really know anything else,” Reader said. “I’ve always kinda been, if I decide to do something, I’m going to just go ahead and do it. Just show up every day and know that every day is a step forward, not a step backwards. That’s just kind of how I go about it.”
The Lions must cut down their roster to 53 players next Tuesday, August 27. Then, they’ll be faced with a decision with Reader. If they move him to the reserve/PUP list, he won’t count against the roster, but he’ll miss the first four games of the season and won’t be able to practice during that time, either. If they remove him from the PUP list, he’ll count against the 53-man roster and be eligible to practice and play immediately.