Skyler Gill-Howard, that sixth-round rookie defensive tackle, just wrapped up a preseason that might have him locked into the Detroit Lions roster. The guy put up two tackles, a sack, and two quarterback hits in Detroit’s 25-16 preseason victory over Indianapolis on Saturday, capping off a month of seriously disruptive play. He came into training camp just trying to find a spot in one of the deepest position groups on the team, and now, Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes might not be able to cut him. Talk about making a statement!
That Last Game? He Made It Count.
Look, one performance doesn’t guarantee an NFL job, we all know that. But an entire month of being impossible to ignore? That’s a different story. Gill-Howard saved his best for last on Saturday. He blasted into the backfield on third down against Indianapolis and dropped quarterback Anthony Richardson for a five-yard loss. That play ended the Colts’ drive and got Detroit’s defense off the field, pure money! It was officially his first sack of the preseason, but anyone watching knows it wasn’t some fluke. He’d been consistently creating pressure and disruption all through August, even racking up two quarterback hits in the preseason opener against Cincinnati. After that opener, Campbell even called him out, saying, “He’s another one of these players for a young guy who is very conscientious and he has a serious approach about him. You don’t have to tell him something five times. You tell him once and he’s got it and he locks in.” That’s huge praise, especially for a sixth-round defensive tackle fighting for a roster spot.
He’s Not a Prototype, And Who Cares?
Physically, Gill-Howard isn’t your typical interior defensive lineman. He’s roughly 6-foot and 280 pounds, smaller than many guys at that position. The Lions knew that when they snagged him 205th overall out of Texas Tech. But they also knew exactly what made him intriguing: his quickness, leverage, violence, and motor. Campbell has seen all four of those traits on display repeatedly. After Gill-Howard piled on more pressure against Washington, Campbell dropped a quote that really tells you everything. He said, “Sun Bleach just continues to make plays. He does it at practice. You can feel him out there, you know, and he just is relentless. He plays snap to whistle, and he’s all out. And he’s got to be right, you know he does, because he’s not a huge guy. But he knows who he is and he knows how he has to play. He plays with high effort, and he’s crafty, man. He’s explosive and he’s violent.” Campbell isn’t talking about a “developmental project” there. He’s talking about a guy who can actually help.
The defensive line competition in Detroit was already stacked, one of the toughest roster battles on the team. But Gill-Howard, this 205th overall pick, he’s built a case all summer long. With that kind of motor and that kind of craftiness, he is making himself a must-keep. Keep your eyes peeled for those final roster decisions because if he’s not on that squad, it’ll be a massive shocker.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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