Joe Mixon, DJ Reader Discuss End Of Bengals Tenure: ‘I’m Exactly Where I’m Supposed To Be’

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CINCINNATI — Cincinnati said goodbye to a few stars this week as they traded Joe Mixon to the Texans and couldn’t agree to a deal with DJ Reader before he left and signed in Detroit.

Mixon got an extension with $13 million guaranteed on top of the trade as he dove into his love for Cincinnati.

“It was definitely shocking,” Mixon said about the trade. “It took awhile and I’m still having emotional feelings about it, but that’s a place where I can forever feel like that’s home for me. I’m just very grateful for that. You know, the fans, they embraced me the way they did and I just love everything about the way that their fans were. We brought the city of Cincinnati back, we got it lit back again. I plan on bringing that same thing here.”

Mixon is one of the five best running backs in team history and made a big mark on the fanbase since 2017. Reader had a massive impact as well, in an even shorter time.

“Things happen. Sometimes things don’t work out in relationships and you got to move on. I’m on to a better opportunity that I’m really, really excited about,” Reader noted at his introductory press conference.

He dove into more about landing in the Motor City.

“You always think that things are gonna work out for you, in the best way where you’re at,” Reader said. “But fortunately, you know, I’m a big believer in faith and God’s always got to plan for me and where he wants me to be is where I’m supposed to be. And so you know, I feel like this is the place. I’m excited about what they got going on. The energy here as soon as I got here today, it was amazing, too. I was super happy saw some familiar faces. And that was a really good feeling. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be man.”

Cincinnati now calls on a new era of rushers and run-stoppers to pick up the slack.