Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien has long been a fan of defensive tackle D.J. Reader.
The sixth-year coach’s appreciation for the 2016 fifth-round pick from Clemson was on display when he met with reporters Monday.
“D.J. Reader has had a really good year for us,” O’Brien said. “He does a lot of things that don’t show up on the stat sheet. He’s an excellent inside defensive tackle that plays the run very well. He gives us some juice in the passing game.”
On the season, Reader collected 55 tackles, 3.0 sacks, six tackles for loss, and 14 quarterback hits.
For O’Brien, the best example of what Reader means to the defense can be summarized on a first-and-10 with 4:37 to go in the fourth quarter of the Texans’ 22-19 overtime win against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC wild-card. Though rookie running back Devin Singletary earned a chunk play on a 38-yard screen pass, Reader’s effort kept it from being more.
Said O’Brien: “On this one play down the opposite sideline from our sideline, D.J. Reader must have ran at least probably, from where he was in the backfield, probably about 50 yards. You’re talking about a big man that gave unbelievable effort on that play and then [safety] Mike Adams did a good job of using the sideline and they were able to get the guy down on the ground.”
The Bills weren’t able to get any points out of the potential game-winning drive, as outside linebacker Jacob Martin sacked quarterback Josh Allen for a loss of 19 on fourth-and-27.
It wouldn’t have been possible if Reader hadn’t chased Singletary.
“That’s another example of D.J. Reader and effort that he plays with, and that was a big play in the game,” said O’Brien.
The Texans can use Reader’s best effort as they face the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC divisional Sunday at 2:05 p.m. CT at Arrowhead Stadium. A win would give the Texans their first AFC Championship Game berth in franchise history.
