Dennis Duane Reed Jr. Bio
Dennis Duane Reed Jr., known as D. J. Reed, is an American professional football cornerback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. Born on November 11, 1996, in Bakersfield, California, Reed played college football at Kansas State University before entering the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers selected him in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft with the 142nd overall pick. Reed has developed into a reliable starting cornerback during his NFL career, having previously played for the Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets before joining the Lions in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Reed attended Independence High School in Bakersfield, California. In his high school football career, he totaled six interceptions and five forced fumbles along with 1,150 total yards of offense with 13 touchdowns. Along with football, he also played basketball and was the first person in school history to be named MVP in both sports. Deciding to pursue football full-time as a senior in high school but receiving no scholarship offers, Reed earned a spot as a walk-on at Fresno State after a successful tryout for their football team.
Reed redshirted as a true freshman at Fresno State in 2014. After Fresno State coaching staff declined to offer Reed a scholarship in the spring of 2015, Reed chose to transfer from Fresno State to Cerritos College, a community college in Norwalk, California. In his lone year at Cerritos, Reed played in 11 games, tallying 42 tackles, three pass breakups, and two interceptions. After one year at Cerritos, Reed once again transferred, this time to Kansas State.
Path to American Football
As a redshirt sophomore at Kansas State in 2016, Reed played in all 13 games as a cornerback and a return specialist, starting 12 games at cornerback. Reed totaled 75 tackles, 19 pass breakups, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles, and returned nine kickoffs for 255 yards. After the season, he was named first-team All-Big 12 at cornerback. He was also named Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year for his outstanding performance.
Prior to the 2017 season, Reed was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, the Jim Thorpe Award watch list, and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list. A team captain, Reed started 11 games at cornerback in 2017. He missed the last two regular season games due to injury, but played in the Cactus Bowl. He recorded 47 tackles, four interceptions, nine pass breakups, and one forced fumble on defense. He also excelled as a return specialist, returning 17 punts for 253 yards and one touchdown, and returned 17 kicks for 582 yards and one touchdown.
After the conclusion of the 2017 season, Reed was named first-team All-Big 12 at cornerback and second-team All-Big 12 as a return specialist, while also achieving second-team All-American honors. Reed declared for the 2018 NFL Draft on December 31, 2017.
Dennis Duane Reed Jr. Career
San Francisco 49ers Era (2018-2019)
The San Francisco 49ers selected Reed in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He was the 16th cornerback drafted. On May 12, 2018, the 49ers signed Reed to a four-year, $2.77 million rookie contract that includes a signing bonus of $311,371. Throughout training camp, he competed for a roster spot as a backup cornerback against Emmanuel Moseley, Greg Mabin, and Tarvarus McFadden. He also provided depth at nickelback behind K’Waun Williams and Jimmie Ward. Head coach Kyle Shanahan named Reed a backup and listed him as the sixth cornerback on the depth chart to begin the season.
On September 9, 2018, Reed made his professional regular season debut in the San Francisco 49ers season-opener at the Minnesota Vikings. On September 30, 2018, Reed earned his first career start in place of Richard Sherman, who was inactive due to a calf injury. On December 10, 2018, Reed set a season-high with 12 combined tackles, forced a fumble, and had his first career sack on Case Keenum for a five-yard loss as the 49ers defeated the Denver Broncos. He finished his rookie season with 41 combined tackles, one forced fumble, and one sack in 15 games and two starts.
In 2019, Reed appeared in all 16 games. In Week 11, Reed returned a fumble recovery five yards to score his first career touchdown as the 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals. The San Francisco 49ers finished the 2019 NFL season atop the NFC West with a 13-3 record to clinch a first-round bye. Reed appeared in Super Bowl LIV, but made only one tackle while playing only nine snaps on special teams as the 49ers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2020-2021)
On July 28, 2020, the San Francisco 49ers placed Reed on the active/non-football injury list at the start of training camp after he suffered a torn pectoral while lifting weights in the off-season. On August 4, 2020, the 49ers waived Reed with a non-football injury designation. On August 5, 2020, the Seattle Seahawks claimed Reed off waivers. On September 5, 2020, the Seahawks placed him on the reserve/non-football injury list at the start of the regular season as he recovered from surgery to repair his torn pectoral. On October 31, 2020, the Seattle Seahawks activated him from the NFI list after he was inactive for the first six games of the regular season.
On November 1, 2020, Reed made his debut with the Seahawks against his former team and made six solo tackles, one pass deflection, and had his first career interception on a pass attempt thrown by Jimmy Garoppolo to tight end George Kittle during a win in Week 8. He finished the season with a total of 62 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, and two interceptions in ten games and eight starts.
In 2021, Reed entered training camp competing to be a starting cornerback. Head coach Pete Carroll named him the No. 1 starting cornerback to begin the season. On January 2, 2022, Reed made eight combined tackles, set a season-high with three pass deflections, and set a career-high with two interceptions during a win against the Detroit Lions. He finished the season with 78 combined tackles, ten pass deflections, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery in 14 games and 14 starts.
New York Jets Era (2022-2024)
On March 17, 2022, the New York Jets signed Reed to a three-year, $33 million contract that includes $10.50 million guaranteed upon signing and an initial signing bonus of $9.46 million. He was reunited with New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh, who had previously been his defensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers from 2018 to 2019. He was named a starting cornerback to begin the season and was paired with 2022 rookie first-round pick Sauce Gardner.
On September 11, 2022, Reed made his Jets debut against the Baltimore Ravens and made two solo tackles, a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass by Lamar Jackson during their loss. He started in all 17 games for the first time in his career and set a career-high with 80 combined tackles, 12 pass deflections, and one interception.
On September 11, 2023, Reed started in the New York Jets home-opener against the Buffalo Bills and set a season-high with 11 combined tackles during their victory. On October 1, 2023, Reed suffered a concussion while attempting to tackle wide receiver Skyy Moore during a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. He was placed in concussion protocol and remained inactive for the next two games. He finished the season with a total of 76 combined tackles, nine pass deflections, and one interception in 15 games and 15 starts.
In 2024, Reed entered training camp slated as the de facto No. 2 starting cornerback alongside Sauce Gardner. He started in the New York Jets season-opener at the San Francisco 49ers and set a season-high with nine combined tackles during their loss. On October 8, 2024, the Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh. He finished the season with 64 combined tackles, 11 pass deflections, and one sack in 14 games and 14 starts.
Detroit Lions Era (2025-Present)
On March 10, 2025, the Detroit Lions signed Reed to a three-year, $48 million contract that includes $30.98 million guaranteed upon signing and a signing bonus of $15.23 million. On October 1, Reed was placed on injured reserve due to a strained hamstring. He was activated on November 22, ahead of the team’s Week 12 matchup against the New York Giants. He is currently the fourth cornerback on the Lions roster.
Playing Style and Strengths
Reed has established himself as a physical and reliable cornerback throughout his NFL career. His ability to play both outside cornerback and in the slot has made him a valuable asset for multiple franchises. Reed excels in press coverage and demonstrates strong tackling ability in run support. His experience playing in various defensive systems, from the 49ers to the Seahawks and Jets, has allowed him to adapt his style to different schemes while maintaining consistent production. His Pro Football Focus grades have ranged from 70.7 to 78.6 throughout his career, indicating solid starter-level play.
Notable Events and Milestones
Reed’s career has featured several memorable moments. His first career sack against Case Keenum in 2018 and his first career interception against Jimmy Garoppolo in 2020 marked early milestones in his professional career. Playing in Super Bowl LIV with the 49ers in 2020 provided him with valuable playoff experience on the biggest stage. His two-interception performance against the Detroit Lions in January 2022 showcased his ability to make game-changing plays. Reed’s resilience in returning from a torn pectoral in 2020 and a hamstring injury in 2025 demonstrates his determination to contribute at the highest level.
Dennis Duane Reed Jr. Career Statistics
Throughout his NFL career, Reed has accumulated impressive statistics across seven seasons. His career totals include 460 total tackles, 58 pass deflections, 8 interceptions, 2 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, and 5 fumble recoveries. He has also scored one defensive touchdown in his career.
College Honors
Reed earned significant recognition during his college career at Kansas State. He was named Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2016 and achieved Second-team All-American honors in 2017. He was a two-time First-team All-Big 12 selection in both 2016 and 2017. His production as both a cornerback and return specialist made him one of the most versatile defenders in the Big 12 Conference during his collegiate career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks Reed’s first with the Detroit Lions after signing a lucrative three-year contract worth $48 million with $30.98 million guaranteed. The contract reflects the Lions’ confidence in Reed’s ability to fortify their secondary. Early in the season, Reed encountered a setback when he suffered a hamstring strain that required him to be placed on injured reserve. This injury occurred shortly after he joined the team during the free agency period.
After spending several weeks on injured reserve, Reed was activated ahead of the Week 12 matchup against the New York Giants, giving him an opportunity to contribute during the final stretch of the regular season. His return adds experience and depth to a Lions secondary that features several talented defensive backs. Reed’s veteran presence in the defensive backs room provides valuable leadership for younger players in the secondary.
Looking ahead, Reed aims to stay healthy and make a meaningful impact for the Lions during the remainder of the 2025 season. His ability to play multiple positions in the secondary gives the coaching staff flexibility in how they deploy their defensive packages. With sustained health, Reed can be a significant contributor to the Lions’ defense as they push toward their playoff goals.