Unsurprisingly given their recent string of performances, any mention of the Houston Texans in Pro Football Focus’ All-Pro team for the first quarter of the season are few and far between.
However, there is some good news for Texans fans as one defensive stalwart has made the cut.
Defensive lineman D.J. Reader has made the All-Pro team for this season so far thanks to a string of extremely impressive and consistent performances this season. The fourth-year former fifth-round pick out of Clemson is beginning to earn the credit he has deserved for some time as one of the best in his position, as PFF explained:
A name many probably didn’t expect to see on this list, D.J. Reader is off to a career-year pace with his 90.3 overall grade, 84.3 run-defense grade and 81.7 pass-rushing grade. In a contract year, Reader has seemingly taken his game to the next level after earning a 79.2 overall grade in 2017 and a 76.7 overall grade in 2018.
Reader already has 1.5 sacks and 15 tackles this year, putting him on course for 6 sacks and 60 tackles should he continue this trajectory. Both would be NFL career highs for the former Tiger and should put him in consideration for his first Pro Bowl or All-Pro call up, come the end of this season.
The timing for his career year not only benefits him as he works his way toward a new contract, but it also helps this Texans defense as they adjust to life without Jadeveon Clowney. Reader has helped plug the gap left by the now Seattle Seahawk in both run-stuffing and pass-rushing and deserves a great deal of praise for his performances of late.
A core member of Houston’s defense and their renowned ‘Lunch Pale Crew,’ let’s hope his season continues on its current course and he finally becomes recognized as one of the top defensive tackles in the league.
