DJ Reader

[SunsetBengal]

(12-18-2023, 11:41 AM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: If the Bengals were not planning on re-signing DJ, I would think they would have drafted his replacement by now. Maybe the injury changes their plans, but I think there was mutual interest in him returning. I'm hoping we sign him to a 2 or 3 year deal, maybe a little under market to account for his injury, and then live with Tupou until he's healthy enough to start again.

He's so incredibly important to Lou's scheme. He basically makes a 7 man box an 8 man box. You can't just find that anywhere.

I agree with you that the team likely did want to keep DJ Reader around for another couple of seasons.  I think that it could still be possible, as he made a full and complete recovery from the same injury on the other leg a couple of years ago, and the front office does seem to value players who have been as instrumental to team success as Reader has.  Given the severity of the injury and his age is now a thing of significance, rather than a mega-deal with high amounts of guaranteed money, I could see the team offering him a contract a little more modest on the up front guarantees and loaded with playing time escalators.

However it works out, I'd just like to see Reader recover and play football again, even if it has to be with a team other than the Bengals.