Detroit Lions complete touchdown pass to OT Dan Skipper

On December 16, 2024By Littum

The Detroit Lions completed a touchdown pass to a backup offensive lineman in the first half against the Buffalo Bills.

Yes, you read that right.

The Lions answered the Bills’ touchdown with a play-action touchdown pass to backup offensive tackle Dan Skipper after he subbed in as a sixth blocker in the red zone. Goff faked the pass to Jahmyr Gibbs and dumped to an open skipper in the flat for his first career touchdown catch.

The Lions converted a fourth-and-4 with a 21-yard completion to Amon-Ra St. Brown over the middle to keep the drive alive and pull within a score again. Skipper joins Taylor Decker and Scott Conover as Lions offensive linemen who have caught a touchdown pass. The touchdown pulled the Lions back to within one score and currently trail 21-14 before halftime.

The Lions have used Skipper as a wide receiver before this season, lining him up wide during the blowout win against the Dallas Cowboys. Detroit also drew up a trick play for an offensive lineman pass when right tackle Penei Sewell tried to attempt a pass in the first quarter against the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving.

Last season, the Lions famously attempted to complete a touchdown pass to left tackle Taylor Decker in Week 17 against the Packers, but were called for an illegal turnover penalty after the officials mixed up Decker and Skipper. The Lions have used offensive linemen in the pass game for three straight seasons, including a third-down completion to Sewell to clinch a win over the Vikings in 2022.

The Lions also broke up a double-reversed pass on its first touchdown drive. Goff flipped it to David Montgomery, who fired it back to his quarterback on the reverse pass, and then Goff hit Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 24-yard gain into Buffalo territory.