Important Lions defender could return in time for the opening game against the Rams

ALLEN PARK – The Detroit Lions may still be able to land one of their biggest offseason additions when the season begins Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams.

DJ Reader was originally scheduled to return in Week 2, but he is ahead of schedule in returning from a hamstring injury, returning to practice last week and playing through games to be considered for a game against LA. That decision will be made later this week.

“I would say there's a chance (he plays),” head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday morning. “This week we were really committed to getting him the majority of real football. (Tuesday) was his first real (practice) with protective gear, not just individually and some walk-throughs. So, man, he's on the team (with drills). We've had him do some team defense, but also some scouting. He's going up against Frank (Ragnow) and Graham (Glasgow) and (Kevin) Zeitler to build his confidence, hit hard and really play every day.

“So, yes, there's still a chance. I'll probably know more after tomorrow than I do now. He's fine. He's fine.”

Reader, 30, is recovering from a torn quad suffered last year in Cincinnati. Still considered one of the best free agent defensive linemen ever, he decided to sign a two-year, $22 million deal with the Lions. The reason was simple.

“I think they're further along than I was when I came (to Cincinnati),” Reader said. “I told (team personnel) upstairs that these guys have the same taste in their mouths that I do. I've been in the Super Bowl and lost. These guys have been in an NFC Championship and lost. And so everyone in this building has the same goal to get that taste out of their mouths and I'm so excited about it. I could run through a wall right now because you don't have time to correct those mistakes and this is an opportunity and I don't think we're going to take it lightly as a team to go out there and do our thing.”

Now they're just four days away from their big game, they're favorites to start the year in the Super Bowl, and it looks like Reader has a chance to be in full uniform when Detroit begins its hunt for its first championship since 1957.

The first injury report of the season is expected to be released around 4 p.m. today.