Lions 330-pound OT and cult hero Dan Skipper scores a receiving touchdown

Detroit Lions offensive lineman Dan Skipper had his number called from the 9-yard line Sunday. He made sure to register as eligible.

Skipper received a level of notoriety in Detroit that few linemen do when he was at the center of a controversy last season. On a trick 2-point conversion attempt against the Dallas Cowboys, Skipper reported as eligible, but the officials did not realize that Taylor Decker was also eligible. The Lions have often used Skipper as an extra lineman since then, and when officials report him as eligible, the Lions crowd usually give a sarcastic cheer.

There was nothing sarcastic about the cheering on Sunday. The Lions run more trick plays than anyone in the league, and they went deep in their playbook against the Buffalo Bills. The play was for Skipper to peel off and catch a pass from the 9-yard line. Nobody covered the 330-pound lineman, of course, and he got into the end zone to score.

It wasn’t Skipper’s first career catch. He had a 4-yard gain last season. But it was his first career touchdown. It’s a cool moment for a seven-year NFL veteran whose only infamy was being part of an officiating debacle last season (or being congratulated by Dan Campbell for he vomits).

Skipper probably didn’t expect to catch touchdowns on Sunday. The Lions called his number when they were down 21-7, proving there isn’t a situation they won’t call a trick play. And thus Skipper’s popularity in Michigan grows even more.