Tag: Dan Skipper

Lions snap count notes vs. Buccaneers: Dan Campbell rode his starters to victory

Lions snap count notes vs. Buccaneers: Dan Campbell rode his starters to victory, playing reserves less than normal on both sides

The Detroit Lions improved to 5-1 with Sunday’s 20-6 win in Tampa Bay, and they got the victory by leaning heavily on the starting lineup, especially on offense.

Head coach Dan Campbell shortened the bench on offense in the win. Some of that was injury-related necessity. With regular starting guards Jonah Jackson and Halapoulivaaati Vaitai unable to start, the starting five playing the whole way was a necessity. All five played all 70 offensive snaps, as did QB Jared Goff.

The other key starters played very high percentages of the game. Amon-Ra St. Brown was on the field for over 90 percent (64 of 70), followed closely by Josh Reynolds (57) at wide receiver. Rookie TE Sam LaPorta repped on 58 snaps, with Brock Wright in for 43 as the Lions leaned heavily into using two TEs against the Bucs’ impressive defensive front.

The reserves didn’t get much action. Jameson Williams caught his two passes on just 16 snaps, which is one more than Kalif Raymond got on offense. David Montgomery’s injury after 18 snaps thrust Craig Reynolds (43) and Devine Ozigbo (6) into more action than expected. Dan Skipper played four reps as an extra tackle in his first game back on the active roster.

On defense, 17 players saw action for Detroit. Five never left the field, playing all 56 snaps: DBs Kerby Joseph, Tracy Walker, Jerry Jacobs, Cam Sutton and LB Alex Anzalone.

DE Aidan Hutchinson crept back up over 85 percent usage again, playing 50 reps. John Cominsky played a season-high 43 snaps, out-repping Charles Harris (18), Levi Onwuzurike (11) and Romeo Okwara (9) combined in the No. 2 DE role.

The Lions split playing a third LB and a fifth DB pretty evenly. Will Harris was the No. 5 DB and played 39 snaps, with no other CBs or safeties seeing action. Jack Campbell was the third LB at 29 snaps.

Vaitai did play, but only on special teams. He was one of 11 Lions to appear strictly on special teams. Notable again amongst the 11: linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, his second straight game no seeing any action on defense.

Lions place 2 players on I.R. in a series of moves ahead of Week 6

The Lions made a series of internal moves to handle some injury issues ahead of Week 6

As expected, the Detroit Lions made some injury-related roster moves on Saturday ahead of the Week 6 matchup with the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay.

The Lions placed two players on injured reserve. Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley will miss the rest of the season with a torn right ACL, while running back Zonovan Knight will miss at least four games with a left shoulder injury. Both injuries happened in the Week 5 win over the Carolina Panthers.

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The I.R. moves opened up two roster spots which the Lions filled internally. Detroit activated CB Khalil Dorsey from the injured reserve to take Moseley’s spot. Offensive lineman Dan Skipper was signed from the practice squad to the active roster. Skipper, who has been back on the practice squad after spending the summer with the Indianapolis Colts, will help bolster the offensive line depth.

With Knight on I.R. and Jahmyr Gibbs ruled out with an injured hamstring, the Lions added a running back by elevating RB Devine Ozigbo from the practice squad. He’ll be the third RB behind David Montgomery and Craig Reynolds in Sunday’s matchup with Tampa Bay.

In-game injuries force more OL shuffling for the Lions

Already down 2 starters on the OL, the Lions lost two right tackles in the first half against the Falcons

Already down two regular starters due to injuries, the Detroit Lions were forced to really reach into the depth chart with more injuries in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Falcons.

Matt Nelson started the game at right tackle but was injured in the first half. He left the field on a cart. He was initially ruled as questionable but quickly ruled out with a knee injury.

Nelson was replaced by Dan Skipper, who was signed to the practice squad this week. Skipper played well but was also forced from the game with a hamstring injury after just two drives.

He was replaced by fifth-round rookie Colby Sorsdal, making his NFL debut. Sorsdal played tackle in college but had almost exclusively played guard for the Lions in training camp and the preseason.

Regular right tackle Penei Sewell started at left tackle, moving due to the injury to Taylor Decker.

Lions elevate OL Dan Skipper and S Brandon Joseph from the practice squad

Lions elevate OL Dan Skipper and S Brandon Joseph from the practice squad for Week 3

The Detroit Lions have brought up some reinforcements for Sunday’s matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. Faced with several injuries across the roster, the Lions elevated some help from the practice squad.

Detroit promoted offensive lineman Dan Skipper and safety Brandon Joseph from the practice squad to the active roster on Saturday. It’s the first elevation of the year for both players.

Skipper, who re-signed with the Lions practice squad this week, will help bolster the offensive line depth. Left tackle Taylor Decker and RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai are ruled out for the game in Ford Field.

Joseph, an undrafted rookie from Notre Dame, will make his NFL debut on the active roster. Starters C.J. Gardner-Johnson (on I.R.) and Kerby Joseph (inactive with a hip issue) are out at safety.

Lions make big changes to the practice squad

Lions make big changes to the practice squad by signing 4 players, including OL Dan Skipper

There were quite a few new players at Detroit Lions practice on Wednesday. The team signed four players to the practice squad to help bolster the injury-riddled roster.

Two of the newcomers have some history with the Lions. Foremost is offensive lineman Dan Skipper, who has been on and off the Lions active roster and practice squad over the last six seasons. Running back Devine Ozigbo is also back after spending the preseason with Detroit. Ozigbo is notable for his receiving and pass protection ability as a running back.

The two other players signed to the practice squad came from the workouts earlier in the week. The Lions added CB Darius Phillips and LB Mitchell Agude. Detroit also released rookie defensive tackle Chris Smith from the practice squad.

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Lions add OL help in a flurry of roster moves

The Lions add some OL help in a flurry of roster moves to help bolster the banged-up roster

Faced with several injuries around the roster, the Detroit Lions made some roster moves on Tuesday to help bolster the depth.

Offensive lineman Kayode Awosika was signed from the practice squad to the active roster. Awosika can play either guard spot as well as right tackle. With starting RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai dealing with a knee injury, Awosika likely becomes the backup guard behind replacement starter Graham Glasgow.

Detroit also brought back veteran Dan Skipper to the practice squad. It’s a return to the Lions for the NFL’s tallest player after a brief stint with the Colts.

This is in addition to the previously reported move of promoting RB Zonovan Knight from the practice squad to the active roster.

To create room on the 53-man roster, Detroit placed OLB James Houston and DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson on injured reserve. They will each miss a minimum of four games.

Colts sign G Arlington Hambright to practice squad

The Colts brought Arlington Hambright back to the practice squad.

The Indianapolis Colts signed guard Arlington Hambright to the practice squad and released offensive tackle Dan Skipper from the practice squad, the team announced Monday.

Hambright initially made the 53-man roster but was cut when the team made waiver claims the following day. He spent the 2022 season on the practice squad and was with the Colts for the entire 2023 offseason.

Skipper signed with the Colts during training camp and was released during roster cuts. He was then signed to the practice squad.

Colts make final roster cuts, release Skipper

Former Razorback Dan Skipper was cut by the Colts on Tuesday.

Former Arkansas offensive lineman Dan Skipper made a strong push to make the Indianapolis Colts final 53-man roster, but the six-year veteran was released by the team Tuesday.

Since being signed as a free agent by Dallas in 2017, the 6-foot-10, 326-pound Skipper has spent time with seven different franchises, playing in 28 games, with five starts.

The Arvada, Colo., native was a four-year starter for the Hogs from 2013-16, starting the final 47 games of his career, the second-longest streak in program history. Skipper is one of just six offensive linemen in program history to earn All-SEC honors twice in a career. He also used his height and strength to block seven field goal attempts on special teams,

Colts’ snap count analysis from preseason win over Bears

Taking a look at the snap counts from the Colts’ preseason win over the Bears.

The Indianapolis Colts defeated the Chicago Bears, 24-17, on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium for their first preseason win.

The majority of starters were rested after some physical joint training camp practices with the Bears earlier in the week so we got a good look at the depth in all three phases of the game.

Here’s a look at the snap counts on offense, defense and special teams:

Total plays

Offense: 67
Defense: 66
Special Teams: 23

Offensive tackle Dan Skipper was the only player to see 100% of the snaps on either side of the ball while fellow offensive lineman Carter O’Donnell was right behind him at 96%. In the backfield, Deon Jackson got the start, and Evan Hull worked in as well.

Rookie tight end Will Mallory made his preseason debut, playing just one fewer snap than the leader among tight ends, Nick Eubanks. Meanwhile, guard Emil Ekiyor didn’t see a single snap on offense.

Safety Nick Cross got the start and played well into the third quarter on defense. We still haven’t seen Julian Blackmon make his preseason debut.

Despite joining the team the day prior, wide receiver James Washington played 20 snaps on offense. His lone 43-yard reception led the entire team in receiving yards.

Colts sign OT Dan Skipper, waive two players

The Colts signed OL Dan Skipper and waived OT Jordan Murray and TE Kaden Smith.

The Indianapolis Colts signed free-agent offensive tackle Dan Skipper and waived offensive tackle Jordan Murray and tight end Kaden Smith, the team announced Tuesday.

Skipper, 28, entered the league as an undrafted free-agent rookie out of Arkansas in 2017. He initially signed with the Dallas Cowboys (2017) and has had three separate stints with the Detroit Lions (2017-2018, 2019-2020, 2021-2022) with other stops between those stints.

Skipper has appeared in 29 career games and has made five starts, all five of which came in 2022 with the Lions at right and left guard.

Murray signed with the Colts in 2022 and spent the season on the practice squad. He received a futures contract in the offseason. Smith was signed in free agency this offseason following the 2023 NFL draft.