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Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman D.J. Reader isn’t content with just coasting after the team made him the NFL’s highest-paid nosetackle in free agency.
Reader says he’s cut out carbs and is down about 20 pounds ahead of the 2020 season — all with the goal of being even better for his new team.
Here’s Reader, per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:
“I want to do the things that are going to make me a better player this year. Maybe get a little more quicker. My reps might go up, you never know. I wanted to be prepared for everything. I wanted to make sure I’m going to be in the best shape of my career. Play better and yet still be strong.”
Reader was already one of the NFL’s most disruptive forces on the inside a season ago, hence the 86.7 grade at PFF. He was stout against the run and better than most at applying pressure.
Based on comments included in the writeup, Bengals coaches aren’t too concerned with Reader dropping weight, either. He’ll still check in around 320 pounds and if anything, he’ll be even better at disrupting while his usual anchor positioning helps him hold up against the running game.
One of Cincinnati’s goals this year atop simply improving the roster was adding guys with leadership and winning habits. Reader cashing in but working his tail off to keep getting better at the age of 26 certainly suggests he fits the mold.
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