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The Cincinnati Bengals have big plans for new addition D.J. Reader, a guy they made one of the NFL’s highest-paid defensive linemen this offseason in free agency.
Reader wasn’t a household name outside the Houston area, which is somewhat funny given just how dominant he was. The catch? Reader only played 58 percent of his defense’s snaps last season.
That’s about to change.
Here’s defensive line coach Nick Eason, per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com
“We talked about that level of expectation we’re going to have for him. He’s going to be in involved in our sub packages and every package we have. His role is going to be expanded with us. His role is going to more than in Houston.”
It’s not any great surprise the Bengals want even more from Reader after paying up on one of the biggest splashes in free agency outright. It also works in tandem with the idea they want fewer snaps for Geno Atkins so he’s more effective.
As for Reader himself? He’s cut down his weight in the hopes of being even better next season, and doing so probably means he can be even more effective in getting after passers.
In short, Bengals coaches sound ready to cut Reader loose. Based on his play in Houston, the AFC North has a problem.
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