Bengals have competition for DJ Reader from Titans, Lions, per report

The Cincinnati Bengals want star defensive lineman DJ Reader back, which those around the team haven’t been shy about since the season ended.

But other teams want him, too.

According to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, the Titans and Lions have made a push for Reader, too.

No shock there, given Reader’s elite level of play. And in Tennessee, new head coach Brian Callahan knows a thing or two about what Reader can do to an opposing offense.

Likely complicating matters on the Bengals-Reader front is the fact he suffered a season-ending torn quad, his second in four seasons with the team. Plus, he’ll turn 30 over the summer.

This doesn’t mean Reader won’t be back in Cincinnati, but there are hurdles if the Bengals want to keep a top-five nose tackle who helps the entire scheme tick.