Detroit Lions offensive assistant coach Dan Skipper received a simple assignment from head coach Hank Fraley before Tuesday’s minicamp practice.
Stay out of trouble.
As it turns out, that advice became relevant much sooner than anyone expected.
Prior to practice, Fraley was asked about Skipper’s transition from player to coach and jokingly revealed the first rule he gave the longtime Lions offensive lineman.
“First role I gave to Skip was, ‘No fighting coaches, and no fighting players,'” Fraley joked.
Less than an hour later, Skipper found himself right in the middle of a heated on-field altercation.
Dan Skipper Lions minicamp fight
Scuffle Breaks Out During Walkthrough
According to Jeremy Reisman, the incident occurred during walkthroughs when reserve offensive tackle Devin Cochran and rookie defensive end Anthony Lucas became tangled up after a play.
What began as pushing and shoving quickly escalated.
The two players exchanged words and eventually started throwing punches after the whistle. Moments later, Lucas appeared to get involved with another player, prompting Cochran to race across the field and throw additional punches.
Several coaches and players immediately rushed in to separate the participants, including Skipper.
Ironically, the newly hired offensive assistant was one of the first people helping restore order despite Fraley’s earlier warning about avoiding fights.
Competitive Fire on Display
While coaches never want to see punches thrown during practice, tensions can occasionally flare during offseason workouts as players compete for roster spots and attempt to make an impression.
For Cochran and Lucas, both players are battling for opportunities on a roster loaded with talent, which can sometimes lead to emotions boiling over.
Fortunately, the situation was quickly de-escalated before it grew into anything larger.
As for Skipper, he technically followed Fraley’s instructions.
He wasn’t fighting players.
He was breaking them up.