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Dan Skipper
refer to caption
Skipper with the Lions in 2022
No. 70 – Detroit Lions
Position:Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1994-09-20) September 20, 1994 (age 30)
Arvada, Colorado, U.S.
Height:6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Weight:330 lb (150 kg)
Career information
High school:Ralston Valley (Arvada, Colorado)
College:Arkansas (2013–2016)
Undrafted:2017
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 15, 2024
Games played:54
Games started:14
Receptions:2
Receiving yards:13
Receiving touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Dan Skipper (born September 20, 1994) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arkansas. At 6 feet 10 inches tall, Skipper is currently the tallest active player in the NFL.[1]

Early life

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Skipper was born in Arvada, Colorado, a suburb of Denver. He attended Ralston Valley High School. As a junior, he contributed to the team having a 10–2 record and reaching the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs.

As a senior, he helped get Ralston Valley to the state semifinals, while receiving 5A all-state honors. He received multiple scholarship offers for athletics only, ultimately choosing the University of Arkansas.[2]

College career

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Skipper in January 2017

As a freshman, he appeared in all 12 games and started the last eight at right offensive guard. He blocked a single-season school record three field goal attempts.[3] He contributed to Alex Collins becoming the second freshman in school history and 10th true freshman in Southeastern Conference (SEC) history to rush for 1,000 yards. Collins and Jonathan Williams also became the second Razorback running back duo to each reach at least 900 rushing yards in the same season. Skipper was recognized as a Freshman All-American.

As a sophomore, he started all 13 games at left tackle, was a part of an offensive line that led the SEC with 14 sacks allowed and earned an Associated Press All-SEC honorable-mention. He contributed for Collins and Williams to be the only FBS teammates to each rush for 1,000-plus yards in the 2014 season.

As a junior, he started all 13 games at right tackle and was named second-team All-SEC. He contributed to running back Collins becoming the third player in SEC history with three straight 1,000-yard campaigns to begin his career.

As a senior, he started all 13 games at left tackle and made the All-SEC team of the Coaches Poll, ESPN, Phil Steele, Athlon Sports, Lindy's Sports and Sporting News.[4] He contributed to Rawleigh Williams III winning the SEC regular rushing title with 1,326 yards and Austin Allen throwing for a conference-best 3,430 yards.

He appeared in 51 games and finished his career with 47 straight starts (second-longest streak in school history), 7 blocked field goal attempts on special teams (school record) and became one of six offensive linemen in program history to earn All-SEC honors twice.

Professional career

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Pre-draft

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 9+5⁄8 in
(2.07 m) 		309 lb
(140 kg) 		33+3⁄8 in
(0.85 m) 		10+1⁄2 in
(0.27 m)		 5.26 s 1.78 s 3.06 s 4.94 s 7.50 s 26.0 in
(0.66 m)		 8 ft 1 in
(2.46 m)		 19 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[5][6][7]

Skipper went undrafted during the 2017 NFL draft. It was speculated that he went undrafted due to a chronic blood condition that was discovered during prospect evaluations. After not receiving a contract as an undrafted free agent, Skipper received an invitation to attend the Dallas Cowboys' rookie minicamp as a tryout candidate.[8]

Dallas Cowboys

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Skipper was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cowboys after the 2017 NFL draft on May 16.[9]

Throughout training camp, he competed for a roster spot against Emmett Cleary, Clay DeBord, Ruben Carter, and Kadeem Edwards.[10] On September 2, 2017, he was waived by the Cowboys and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[11][12] He was released on September 20, 2017.[13]

Detroit Lions (first stint)

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On September 25, 2017, Skipper was signed to the Detroit Lions' practice squad.[14] He was promoted to the active roster on October 26, 2017.[15] On October 31, 2017, he was waived in order for the Lions to sign Don Barclay and was re-signed to the practice squad.[16] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Lions on January 1, 2018.[17]

On September 1, 2018, Skipper was waived by the Lions and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[18][19] He was released on September 5, 2018.[20]

Denver Broncos

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On November 27, 2018, Skipper was signed to the Denver Broncos practice squad.[21]

New England Patriots

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On January 8, 2019, Skipper was signed to the New England Patriots practice squad.[22] Skipper was a part of the Patriots Super Bowl LIII championship team when they defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13–3.[23] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Patriots on February 5, 2019.[24] He was released during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019.[25] He was signed to the practice squad the next day.[26]

Houston Texans

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On October 16, 2019, Skipper was signed by the Houston Texans off the Patriots practice squad.[27] He was waived on November 11, 2019.[28]

Detroit Lions (second stint)

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On November 12, 2019, Skipper was claimed off waivers by the Lions.[29] He was waived on November 22 and re-signed to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on December 14, 2019.[30]

Skipper was waived/injured by the Lions during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020,[31] and subsequently reverted to the team's injured reserve list the next day.[32] He was waived with an injury settlement on September 14.[33] He was re-signed to the Lions practice squad on October 21, 2020.[34] He was elevated to the active roster on November 14 and December 12 for the team's weeks 10 and 14 games against the Washington Football Team and Green Bay Packers, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.[35][36] On December 19, 2020, Skipper was promoted to the active roster.[37] For the team's week 17 game against the Minnesota Vikings, Skipper played 9 downs at defensive tackle.[38]

On August 30, 2021, Skipper was waived/injured by the Lions and placed on injured reserve. He was released on September 6, 2021.[39]

Las Vegas Raiders

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On October 13, 2021, Skipper was signed to the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad.[40] He was released on November 3.[41]

Detroit Lions (third stint)

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On November 19, 2021, Skipper was signed to the Lions' practice squad.[42] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Lions on January 10, 2022.[43]

On August 30, 2022, Skipper was released by the Lions and signed to the practice squad the next day.[44][45] This was an emotional moment for the HBO show, Hard Knocks, when Skipper asked "What could I have done different?". On September 18, 2022, in a Week 2 matchup versus the Washington Commanders, Skipper started at guard, a position he had not played since freshman year in college. In the locker room after the Lions' 36–27 win, head coach Dan Campbell recognized "Skip" for his performance, a video clip of which went viral.[46][47] He was signed to the active roster on October 1.[48] He appeared in a career-high 16 games, while starting in 5 contests as an injury fill-in.[49] He was not re-signed after the season.

Indianapolis Colts

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On August 1, 2023, Skipper signed with the Indianapolis Colts.[50] He was released on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was released on September 4.[51][52][53]

Detroit Lions (fourth stint)

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On September 20, 2023, Skipper was signed to the Lions practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on October 14. In the sixteenth game against the Cowboys, he was involved in a controversial call that negated the team a successful two-point conversion with 23 seconds left and a potential win, after officials flagged Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker for an illegal touching penalty, as a result of a confusion in which the Lions tackle was accidentally reported as an eligible receiver by the referee.[54] In the season finale against the Minnesota Vikings, he caught a 4-yard pass.[55] He appeared in 11 games with one start.

On March 14, 2024, Skipper re-signed with the Lions.[56] In the 47-9 win against the Dallas Cowboys, nine months after the 2-point conversion controversial penalty, Skipper reported as an eligible receiver on the first offensive play for the Lions, in addition, Decker had a redzone target that was incomplete, offensive tackle Penei Sewell had a touchdown run reversed due to an ineligible man downfield penalty and with just 4:28 minutes left in the game, Skipper ran a receiving route.[57]

On December 5, 2024, after a victory over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football that clinched a playoff berth for the Lions, Skipper appeared to be vomiting in a post-game video posted by the team. Upon noticing Skipper's discomfort, Head Coach Dan Campbell exclaimed, "There you go, Skip, keep throwing up!" [58] In a game against the Buffalo Bills on December 15, 2024, Skipper caught a 9 yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff, Skipper’s first career receiving touchdown.

References

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  1. ^ "Top 10 Tallest Players in NFL History". Pro Football Network. September 8, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  2. ^ "Dan Skipper, Dallas Cowboys, Offensive Tackle". 247Sports. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  3. ^ Bratton, Michael Wayne (November 9, 2019). "Former Razorback calls out Chad Morris after coach blames Arkansas woes on current roster". Saturday Down South. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  4. ^ "Dan Skipper". Arkansas Razorbacks Athletics. May 8, 2015.
  5. ^ "Dan Skipper Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  6. ^ "2017 Draft Scout Dan Skipper, Arkansas NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  7. ^ "Dan Skipper 2017 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  8. ^ Kevin Casas (July 18, 2017). "No tall tale, 6–10 rookie Dan Skipper still hanging with Cowboys". star-telegram.com. Retrieved January 19, 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ Eatman, Nick (May 16, 2017). "Cowboys Waive 3 From Roster; Sign 2 Tryout Players; More Moves To Come". DallasCowboys.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2018.
  10. ^ K. D. Drummond (June 17, 2017). "Cowboys 2017 Post-Minicamp Roster and Depth Chart Projection: Offense". cowboyswire.usatoday.com. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  11. ^ Phillips, Rob (September 2, 2017). "Cowboys Make 38 Moves, One Trade To Reach 53; Kellen Moore Released". DallasCowboys.com.
  12. ^ Eatman, Nick (September 3, 2017). "Showers, Drafted CB & 2 WRs Headline Cowboys' 10-Man Practice Squad". DallasCowboys.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018.
  13. ^ Quinn, Sam (September 20, 2017). "Cowboys sign Jarron Jones to practice squad, release Dan Skipper". 247Sports. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  14. ^ "Lions sign T Dan Skipper to practice squad". DetroitLions.com. September 25, 2017. Archived from the original on September 27, 2017.
  15. ^ "Lions sign T Dan Skipper to active roster and T Storm Norton to practice squad". DetroitLions.com. October 26, 2017. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018.
  16. ^ "Lions sign free agent G Don Barclay and waive T Dan Skipper". DetroitLions.com. October 31, 2017. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018.
  17. ^ "Lions report 10 Reserve-Future signings". DetroitLions.com. January 1, 2018. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018.
  18. ^ "Lions establish 53-man roster". DetroitLions.com. September 1, 2018. Archived from the original on September 3, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  19. ^ "Lions awarded OL Andrew Donnal and CB Dee Virgin via waivers". DetroitLions.com. September 2, 2018. Archived from the original on September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  20. ^ "Lions sign three players to practice squad". DetroitLions.com. September 5, 2018.
  21. ^ Swanson, Ben (November 27, 2018). "Broncos promote Temarrick Hemingway to active roster, place Jeff Heuerman on injured reserve, sign three to practice squad". DenverBroncos.com.
  22. ^ "Patriots Make A Series of Roster Transactions". Patriots.com. January 8, 2019.
  23. ^ Shpigel, Ben (February 4, 2019). "Patriots Win in Lowest-Scoring Super Bowl Ever". The New York Times. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  24. ^ Kyed, Doug (February 5, 2019). "Patriots Sign Eight Of 10 Practice Squad Players To Future Contracts". NESN.com.
  25. ^ Yang, Nicole. "Patriots rumor roundup: Here's who won't make New England's 53-man roster". Boston.com. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  26. ^ Kyed, Doug (September 2019). "Patriots Practice Squad Tracker: Stephen Anderson, Terez Hall Retained". NESN.com. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  27. ^ Wilson, Aaron (October 16, 2019). "Texans sign 6-foot-10 OT Dan Skipper off Patriots' practice squad". Chron.com. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  28. ^ "Texans sign DE Joel Heath, waive T Dan Skipper". HoustonTexans.com. November 11, 2019.
  29. ^ "Lions awarded T Dan Skipper via waivers from Houston Texans". DetroitLions.com. November 12, 2019.
  30. ^ "Lions sign RB Wes Hills and T Dan Skipper to active roster from practice squad". DetroitLions.com. December 14, 2019.
  31. ^ "Lions announce roster moves". DetroitLions.com. September 5, 2020.
  32. ^ "Lions' Dan Skipper: Transitions to IR". CBSSports.com. September 6, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  33. ^ "Dan Skipper: Reaches injury settlement". CBSSports.com. September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  34. ^ "Lions announce roster moves". DetroitLions.com. October 21, 2020.
  35. ^ Schlitt, Erik (November 14, 2020). "Detroit Lions elevate OL Dan Skipper and DL Frank Herron for Week 10". USAToday.com. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  36. ^ Williams, Charean (December 12, 2020). "Everson Griffen placed on COVID-19 list". NBCSports.com. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  37. ^ "Lions announce roster moves". DetroitLions.com. December 19, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  38. ^ Raven, Benjamin (January 4, 2021). "Snap counts: Detroit's short-handed defense forced to get creative in Week 17 loss". MLive. Booth Newspapers. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  39. ^ Reisman, Jeremy (September 7, 2021). "Notes: Dan Skipper waived with injury settlement, could return to Lions in 2021". Pride Of Detroit. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  40. ^ "Las Vegas Raiders 2021 Roster Transactions". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  41. ^ "Raiders sign LB Marquel Lee to active roster, add QB Nathan Peterman to practice squad". Raiders.com. November 3, 2021. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  42. ^ Risdon, Jeff (November 19, 2021). "Lions re-sign OT Dan Skipper to practice squad". Lions Wire. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  43. ^ Schlitt, Erik (January 10, 2022). "Detroit Lions sign 9 players to reserve/futures contracts". Pride Of Detroit. SB Nation. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  44. ^ "Lions announce roster moves". DetroitLions.com. August 30, 2022. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  45. ^ "Lions announce roster moves". DetroitLions.com. August 31, 2022.
  46. ^ "Lions Twitter".
  47. ^ Reisman, Jeremy (September 18, 2022). "After 'long road' of cuts, Lions OL Dan Skipper becomes unlikely hero vs. Commanders". Pride Of Detroit. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  48. ^ Schlitt, Erik (October 1, 2022). "Lions sign OL Dan Skipper, K Dominik Eberle, downgrade DJ Chark to OUT". Pride Of Detroit. SB Nation. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  49. ^ "Dan Skipper 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  50. ^ "Colts sign OT Dan Skipper, waive OT Jordan Murray, TE Kaden Smith". Colts.com. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  51. ^ Stankevitz, JJ (August 29, 2023). "Colts make roster moves to form initial 53-man roster". Colts.com. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  52. ^ "Colts sign 16 to practice squad". Colts.com. August 30, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  53. ^ "Colts sign G Arlington Hambright to the practice squad, release T Dan Skipper from the practice squad". Colts.com. September 4, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  54. ^ Woodyard, Eric (December 31, 2023). "Lions 'confused' as refs negate late 2-point try in Cowboys win". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  55. ^ Birkett, Dave (October 13, 2024). "How Detroit Lions OL Dan Skipper became 'the most popular scrub' in football". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  56. ^ Reisman, Jeremy (March 12, 2024). "Report: OL Dan Skipper re-signing with the Detroit Lions on 1-year deal". Pride Of Detroit. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  57. ^ "Jared Goff throws 3 TD passes, Lions win 47-9 and hand Cowboys another lopsided home loss". ESPN.com. October 13, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  58. ^ https://x.com/Lions/status/1865011055442706652
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