In what is the most surprising of early Detroit Lions roster cuts, the team has reportedly informed veteran offensive tackle Dan Skipper that he is being released.
For the past three years, Skipper has served as Detroit’s primary backup tackle behind Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell. Over that time, the veteran offensive tackle appeared in 44 games and made 11 starts for Detroit. He became an iconic figure in Detroit after being incorrectly identified as an eligible receiver on Taylor Decker’s would-be game-winning two-point conversion against the Cowboys in 2023.
However, his time with the team spans all the way back to 2017. He originally signed with the Dallas Cowboys after going undrafted that year, but joined the Lions’ practice squad shortly into the regular season. Since then, Skipper has been on and off the roster countless times. In the past, he’s even joked about how the contracts he has signed aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.
It appeared Skipper won the backup job yet again after repping with the first and second teams exclusively all of training camp. However, two other options could be true: the Lions may be happy with the progress that 2024 fourth-round pick Giovanni Manu has made and believe he can be the backup tackle. Or, more likely, veteran Jamarco Jones may have won the job, despite battling injuries for much of camp.
Another option to consider is that, because Skipper is a veteran, he could be coming back to the roster soon. Oftentimes, a veteran is released with an unwritten agreement that they will sign back with the team after some necessary roster maneuvering. At the very least, the Lions seem likely to bring Skipper back on the practice squad.
Check out all of the latest roster cuts here.
24 CommentsSee More:
