Lions tackle Dan Skipper hauls in catch vs. Vikings after Cowboys reporting controversy
The Detroit Lions (11-5) weren’t going to let last week’s controversial call involving proper reporting of an offensive lineman down field deter them from trying again this week.
This time, however, it was actually offensive tackle Dan Skipper who reported as eligible before the play and proceeded to haul in the pass from quarterback Jared Goff in the third quarter of Sunday’s Week 18 home contest against the Minnesota Vikings (7-9).
Nice little response from head coach Dan Campbell after the controversy, which resulted in the Lions losing to the Dallas Cowboys (11-5), 20-19, in Week 17. The play, which occurred with 23 seconds remaining in the game, involved fellow offensive lineman Taylor Decker, who caught the pass from Goff to convert a would-be game-winning two-point conversion.
Referee Brad Allen, however, flagged the play, saying that Decker was ineligible. According to Allen, it was Skipper who reported as eligible, though the Lions heavily disputed that.
“Don’t want to talk about it,” Campbell said after the game. “I explained everything pregame to a tee, OK? I did that.”
Lions’ Sam LaPorta breaks record for most receptions by a rookie TE in NFL history
The call impacted playoff seeding in the NFC in a major way as with a win, Detroit would have been within one win of at least the No. 2 seed and still in play for the No. 1 seed. Nonetheless, Detroit was back at it again against Minnesota and before Skipper had his moment, all of Detroit was holding its breath.
Rookie tight end Sam LaPorta was carted to the locker room after suffering a knee injury during the second quarter. LaPorta’s leg bent awkwardly underneath him as he was being tackled and the Lions ruled him out for the remainder of the game. It’s uncertain what his status will be for the playoffs, which begin next weekend.
Prior to the injury, LaPorta made history, breaking the NFL record for most receptions by a first-year tight end. The former Iowa star caught his 82nd pass from Goff, surpassing the 81-catch record first set by Philadelphia Eagles tight end Keith Jackson in 1988.
LaPorta also joined elite company on Sunday, snagging his 10th touchdown reception of the season. He joined Mike Ditka (1961) and Rob Gronkowski (2010) as the only rookie tight ends with 10 touchdowns in their first year in the league.