The Detroit Lions lost a fan favorite when Dan Skipper announced his retirement on his Instagram account on Thursday afternoon. A veteran of eight seasons in the NFL, Skipper said that he was “reporting for retirement,” referencing the controversial 2023 play against the Dallas Cowboys that made him a cult hero in the Motor City and revealed that he would be embarking on a coaching career beginning next season.
While Skipper may have made fans shed a tear or two due to the announcement, it may be nothing compared to what Giovanni Manu is going through right now.
Entering his third season in the NFL, Manu has been a key figure in the Lions' offseason. While Skipper’s retirement removes one obstacle to seeing the field in Year 3, it’s hardly good news for the College of British Columbia product, as he could see added competition entering 2026.
Giovanni Manu Facing Steeper Climb to Make Lions’ Roster After Dan Skipper’s Retirement
Manu’s offseason has already begun on a concerning note. After being redshirted through his rookie season in 2024, Manu made his first career start for the Lions in 2025 and allowed two sacks before suffering a knee injury that would sideline him for the rest of the season. Those events led Dan Campbell to pray to the heavens for Manu to get some practice reps, which prevented general manager Brad Holmes from committing to him before the 2026 season.
“Manu, he’s taken steps, I’m not going to sit here and say that we feel convinced that he’s ready to be a major contributor,” Holmes said via SI’s John Maakaron. “We hope that he is. We’re just going to have to wait to see, in terms of when we get started in the offseason program, how he comes back in the OTAs.”
Even if Holmes believes in Manu, those comments made it seem like competition is on the horizon. Taylor Decker is considering retirement, but would be in front of Manu on the depth chart if he returns for another season. It has also been speculated that Penei Sewell could move from the right side to the left side to start at left tackle, and while Manu could also switch sides in that scenario, Skipper’s retirement means they’ll have to add at least one more body at the position.
With the way Manu’s first two seasons have gone, there’s a good chance whoever they get – whether it’s a first-round draft pick, a free agent signing, or a futures deal signing – could be more prepared to help out with the Lions’ depth problem. It puts Manu in a position where he’d have to beat more players ahead of him to see the field, and could put his roster spot in jeopardy for next season.
Of course, Manu will likely go into the offseason trying to get in the best position possible to make sure that doesn’t happen. But it’s another tough blow for a player who can’t seem to find his footing in the NFL entering his third season.