New York Giants defensive tackle D.J. Reader and two younger contributors drew praise from head coach John Harbaugh after the team’s 19-11 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, highlighting both a veteran playing at a high level and immediate help from recent additions.
Reader, 32, received a game ball and has been effective against both the run and the pass. Harbaugh noted the performance stands out for a player at that age and stage.
“Fountain of youth, maybe,” Harbaugh told reporters on Monday. “He’s a guy that always, just in his whole career, we played against him so many times and he was just such a pain in the rear to play against because you don’t want him to be as good as he is. And you put the tape on him and, man, this guy can really play.
And I see the same thing. It’s like there’s no drop-off, and maybe he is playing the best of his career.”
Harbaugh added that Reader has been dominant in both phases and continues to get stronger.
“He’s been an anchor for us. He’s been a really important signing for us,” Harbaugh said. “A lot of football left, but he seems like he’s getting stronger every single game.”
On the offensive side, running back Greg Desrosiers Jr. made his NFL debut and produced positive results with limited carries. Harbaugh said the performance was hard to fully project from practice.
“I thought he played well. It’s his first time in an NFL game,” Harbaugh said. “We knew he was a fast, athletic guy, but it’s hard to see in practice, but I thought he made some guys miss. He got some extra yards. He protected the football. He ran hard. A really big sweep run toward the end there that got us a first down, I believe, if I remember right.”
Harbaugh called the addition a clear benefit.
“I thought he played really good football for us, and that was a plus, big plus, and helps us,” Harbaugh said. “We’re a better team for having brought him in here a couple weeks ago.”
Defensive lineman Bobby Jameson-Travis has also seen his role grow. Harbaugh said the improvement in the run defense is partly tied to his play.
“He’s really been picking it up. He’s kind of been growing every single game,” Harbaugh said. “The run defense has been improving, partly because he’s done so well in there. He’s playing kind of how we envisioned him to be playing. So, he’s got a long way to go, but I think he’s come a long way too.”
With a short week ahead of Thursday night’s game against the Washington Commanders, the Giants will look to continue leaning on Reader’s consistency and the emerging contributions from Desrosiers and Jameson-Travis as they try to build on the win in Philadelphia.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants' D.J. Reader 'playing the best of his career'
