Tag: Dan Skipper

Lions vs. Commanders: Quick takeaways from Detroit’s Week 2 win

Lions vs. Commanders: Quick takeaways from Detroit’s Week 2 win in Ford Field

The Detroit Lions made the home fans happy with the 36-27 victory over the Washington Commanders in Week 2. An absolutely dominant first half turned into an uneasy battle in the second half, but the Lions made enough plays on both sides of the ball to secure the victory.

Given all the injuries and the defensive lapses that plagued the team in the Week 1 loss to the Eagles, the win is a sweet one for head coach Dan Campbell. Evening the record at 1-1 avoids a catastrophic start to the season that would potentially lose confidence from the players, something Campbell’s mentor, former Saints head coach Sean Payton, noted after the game.

Here are some quick takeaways from watching the Lions victory in real-time.

Dan Skipper honored by Dan Campbell after the Lions win over the Commanders

Skipper played a great game in emergency duty and Campbell honored him by letting Skipper take the postgame podium first

One of the toughest scenes of the Lions’ appearance on Hard Knocks during training camp was when head coach Dan Campbell had to tell veteran offensive lineman Dan Skipper that he did not make the 53-man roster. Skipper had an impressive summer playing both left and right tackle–his best and most consistent body of work in his five NFL seasons.

“What more could I have done,” a dejected Skipper asked Campbell. The head coach acknowledged it was a very difficult decision, but he valued Skipper and wanted him back on the practice squad

On Sunday, Skipper rewarded his coach’s faith in him and proved what more he could do for Campbell and the Lions. Starting in an emergency at left guard–a position he’s never played before–the 6-foot-10 Skipper played a very good game overall. It was his first-ever NFL start. Skipper was no small part of the Lions’ first-half dominance and did not have any obvious mistakes after giving up a sack on the first offensive possession.

To show how much Skipper’s professionalism and dedication meant to Campbell, the head coach sent out Skipper to meet with the media before Campbell himself talked. It’s a sterling example of everything Campbell preaches to his players–your hard work will be recognized and rewarded.

Before Campbell took questions from the media after heading to the podium himself, he singled out Skipper as well.

“I thought Dan Skipper did a hell of a job.”

From the locker room:

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Lions elevate Dan Skipper and Anthony Pittman from practice squad, downgrade LG Jonah Jackson

Skipper could be the insurance policy for Jackson at left guard if the Pro Bowler can’t play with his finger injury in Week 2

In a set of related roster moves on Saturday, the Detroit Lions elevated two players from the practice squad while delivering some unfortunate news on an injured player.

Practice squad linebacker Anthony Pittman and offensive lineman Dan Skipper were elevated for Week 2. It’s the second week in a row where Pittman has been elevated from the practice squad. He played extensively on special teams in Week 1.

Skipper is getting the promotion because of the downgraded injury status of starting left guard Jonah Jackson. The Pro Bowl LG is now listed as doubtful after being questionable on Friday’s injury report. Jackson has an injured finger.

Skipper has been a tackle throughout his career, but there’s a chance the Lions could install the 6-foot-10 veteran at guard in place of Jackson. He did get some looks inside during training camp and presents a more seasoned matchup than either Drew Forbes or Kayode Owusika, the other reserve guard options on the active roster.

Updating the Detroit Lions offensive line options for Week 2

Sorting out all the possibilities for the Detroit Lions offensive line while dealing with injuries to Frank Ragnow and Jonah Jackson in Week 2

It’s only Week 2 but already the Detroit Lions are forced to test the limits of their offensive line depth. For a team that was projected to have one of the very best lines in the NFL with the presumptive starting five, it’s a huge blow.

Starting right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai went on injured reserve before Week 1 and has subsequently had back surgery. His top replacement, Tommy Kraemer, missed Week 1 with a back injury of his own. He’s now on IR too.

Now with the Washington Commanders and their talented defensive line on the schedule in Week 2, the Lions will be without Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow. No. 77 has been ruled out with a groin and foot injury.

Evan Brown will take over for Ragnow as he did for the final 13 games last season. But the injuries don’t stop there…

Pro Bowl left guard Jonah Jackson is questionable for Sunday’s game with a finger injury. Jackson missed considerable practice time during the week. Head coach Dan Campbell called Jackson “questionably probable” on Friday, but he said the same of Ragnow–who is out.

The Lions have yet to publicly reveal their plan if Jackson can’t play. They do have a few different options.

The easiest is to see what recent acquisition Drew Forbes can do. The Lions claimed Forbes off waivers from the Cleveland Browns during roster cutdowns, so he’s been in practices in Detroit for the last two weeks. Forbes has never taken a regular-season offensive snap since entering the league in 2019.

The Lions have another fresh body on the roster in Kayode Awosika, signed midweek from the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad. Awosika, like Forbes, is a college tackle with no practical experience at guard, however.

Then there’s the potential to kick right tackle Penei Sewell inside to guard. That would mean third tackle Matt Nelson would take over at right tackle, where he struggled all preseason. Logan Stenberg would likely shift from the current starting right guard to left guard (Jackson’s spot) in that scenario while keeping Sewell on the right side.

Awosika and Forbes can both theoretically step in at tackle too, but that’s asking a lot when facing Jonathan Allen, Montez Sweat and a very talented Commanders line.

On the practice squad, the Lions have three players who could see promotions to active duty on Sunday. Tackle Dan Skipper, guard Darrin Paulo and center Ross Pierschbacher provide the practice squad depth. With no other options who have even played center before, expect Pierschbacher to be promoted on Sunday in a reserve capacity.

 

Presenting the Detroit Lions initial 2022 practice squad

The following players have been confirmed to sign on as the initial members of the Detroit Lions’ practice squad for the 2022 season.

The following players have been confirmed to sign on as the initial members of the Detroit Lions’ practice squad for the 2022 season.

Like all NFL teams, the Lions can carry up to 16 players on the practice squad. Up to four can be protected each week from signing to the active roster of another, though that protection does not go into effect until Tuesdays. Detroit signed 13 players who were with the team in the offseason to the initial practice squad.

A player can be promoted from the practice squad to the active roster on game days up to three times per season. After that, they must be signed to the active roster.

Quick takeaways from the Lions vs. Colts preseason game

Some quick takeaways from the Detroit Lions preseason victory over the Indianapolis Colts

The Detroit Lions captured their first preseason win in Indianapolis with a competitive 27-26 victory over the Colts in the second week of preseason.

Detroit largely dominated both lines of scrimmage throughout the game, a matchup where most starters on both teams did not play. The Lions ran for 175 yards and held the Colts to just 30 yards on the ground in an emphatic display of trench domination.

This game put the spotlight on the backups, and in general it showed the overall increase in talent and depth of the Lions from this same point a year ago.

Lions place Jason Cabinda on PUP among roster moves

The Detroit Lions place Jason Cabinda on PUP among roster moves to start training camp

The Detroit Lions announced a few health-related roster moves at the start of training camp.

Most notable is the addition of fullback Jason Cabinda to the physically unable to perform list, or PUP. Cabinda was an active participant in all the prior offseason workouts.

Safety C.J. Moore was placed on the NFI, or non-football injury list. That’s an indication he suffered some sort of limitation between minicamp and training camp. Moore took some first-team reps at safety during June’s minicamp.

Reserve offensive tackle Dan Skipper was placed on the non-football illness list. His malady was not disclosed.

All are designated with active status,  which means they can be activated to full duty at any time.

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Lions minicamp notebook, Day 3: News and notes from the final practice session

Notes from Thursday’s Detroit Lions minicamp session on Jared Goff, UDFAs, punt return fun, an unexpected safety standout and more

Minicamp wrapped on Thursday after three days of practice sessions at the Detroit Lions team facility in suburban Allen Park.

The mood and action was more laid back in a last-day-of-school kind of vibe, to steal a take from Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit. It even ended with a sort of “field day” fun competition between the offense and defense.

Here’s what I saw and heard in Thursday’s session.

Lions minicamp notebook, Day 2: Probing the depths of the roster

Lions minicamp notebook: First impressions from opening day

Lions sign 9 from the practice squad to reserve/future contracts

The Lions locked up nine of the players from their practice squad to reserve/future contracts on Monday

One of the first orders of business for NFL teams in the offseason is to handle the players who ended the season on the practice squad. Those players, who are not technically under contract to the team any longer, are free to do what they wish.

For the players the Detroit Lions and other teams wish to keep around to at least start the 2022 offseason, they can sign reserve/future contracts. They are effectively commitments by the team to bring the players back with a chance to compete for spots in the coming season.

The Lions locked up nine of the players from their practice squad to reserve/future contracts on Monday:

DE Eric Banks
LB Tavante Beckett
DE Bruce Hector
WR Javon McKinley
QB Steven Montez
CB Parnell Motley
OT Dan Skipper
CB Saivion Smith
TE Shane Zylstra

The Lions also activated OLB Austin Bryant from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Bryant missed the final two games.

Lions re-sign OT Dan Skipper to practice squad

Skipper spent the offseason with the Lions and has been on and off the team multiple times in the last four seasons

The Detroit Lions are bringing back Dan Skipper to the team’s practice squad. As first reported by Dave Birkett of the Free Press, Skipper has signed with the team to bolster the offensive line depth.

Skipper rejoins the Lions after a stint on the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad. The 6-foot-10 tackle has been on and off the Lions roster multiple times since the 2017 season, including several stints on the practice squad. Skipper was with the Lions this offseason but suffered an injury in the final preseason game, later being waived off injured reserve. In nine career games on the Lions active roster, Skipper has played just 19 total offensive snaps.

Skipper is back because there is growing concern over starting left tackle Taylor Decker, who missed Thursday’s practice with an elbow injury. Decker made his 2021 debut in the Week 10 tie with Pittsburgh, returning from a finger injury that cost him the first eight games. Matt Nelson, the starting right tackle in Decker’s absence (with Penei Sewell at LT), is dealing with an ankle injury suffered in Sunday’s tie.

Skipper knows the offense and can fill in on either side in a pinch. Expect him to be elevated to the active roster for Sunday’s game in Cleveland.