Tuesday recap: Barnes heads to IR, Patrick earns promotion, Reader moves past 'baby giraffe' stages

DJ Reader is starting to feel like himself two games after returning from a lengthy rehab. (Getty Images)

Allen Park — The Detroit Lions officially transferred defensive end Marcus Davenport and linebacker Derrick Barnes to injured reserve Tuesday afternoon.

Davenport’s injury, reportedly a torn triceps, was described as a likely season-ender by coach Dan Campbell on Monday. The team had hoped Barnes could avoid a stint on IR, but further testing of his knee revealed the recovery time would extend beyond the minimum four games he’ll now be required to miss.

The Lions acted quickly to fill one of the two roster openings the injuries created, signing wide receiver Tim Patrick off the team's practice squad.

Patrick, who spent his first six seasons with the Denver Broncos, had been a game-day elevation the past two weeks, logging 67 snaps in those contests.

The team can use the week of practice to determine how to fill the roster spot, with multiple front-seven defenders on the practice squad deserving a look, including Pat O’Connor, Mitchell Agude, Chris Smith and Isaac Ukwu.

An offensive lineman promotion could also be in play with center Frank Ragnow reportedly suffering a partially torn pectoral muscle and his status remaining up in the air for Monday’s game against Seattle.

● One player coming off a serious injury, defensive tackle DJ Reader, is feeling good after playing 25 snaps each of the past two weeks.

“I feel fine, feel like I'm getting there,” Reader said. “When you first get out there — I mean, maybe just for me, maybe not for everybody — you feel a little bit like a baby giraffe out there. I actually called J.J. (Watt) after the game and talked to him about it, I texted him about it. He's like, 'Yo, it's just a part of it. You're getting your legs up under you.' There are plays where I feel amazing, so I'm starting to feel really, really good. Soreness this week after that game is down.”

Watt and Reader were teammates in Houston, with Watt serving as a mentor during the early stages of Reader’s career. The two remain close to this day.

“He's a good man and a really good friend to have. I'm blessed to have him in my life and be somebody to be able to talk to like that,” Reader said. “My locker was right beside his, too. Coming into the league, it was kind of crazy. Walking in and you're like, 'Dawg, this guy is three-time Defensive Player of the Year.' This is J.J. Watt. You know what I'm saying? I'm walking out of college as a 21-year-old kid and my locker is right next to him. So he's been a pretty big influence in my life.”

● Lions linebacker Jack Campbell has certainly appreciated having Reader in his life.

“DJ, it’s going to take to take two guys to block him,” Campbell said. “Then, if I’m doing my job and getting downhill and getting him a one-on-one, he’s going to win every single time. He also does a great job of keeping guys off of me so I can go make plays, so, I mean, having DJ has been fantastic.”

Reader is used to absorbing double-teams to free up his linebackers to get the stats, but maybe not as much this year as any other time in his career.

“I was telling them yesterday out there on the bus,” Reader said, I'm like, 'Man, you guys are going to have to slow down. I'm used to making a little more plays. Y'all are coming down the hill a little too fast. I don't have to hold blocks as long, but I'm used to getting me a couple more tackles in there.' It's been special.”