Detroit Lions kicker Riley Patterson was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after making three field goals and three extra points in Sunday’s upset victory over the 10-win Arizona Cardinals.
For special teams coordinator Dave Fipp, it was a perfect fit for Patterson thanks to the diligence of GM Brad Holmes, who signed Patterson off of the New England Patriots practice squad last month.
“Riley’s been great,” Fipp explained. “Obviously, we’ve had some challenges at the position and gone through players. I do give a lot of credit to Brad Holmes and Ray Agnew, those guys have had the next best player in ready to go. They’ve done an incredible job with that, they’re extremely diligent. Every time the situation’s popped up, we’ve had no problem.
“Obviously, speaking with Riley, the day he got here he came in and fit right in.”
So far this season, Patterson is a perfect seven for seven on field goals (49 yards longest distance) and eight for eight on extra points.
Meanwhile, it’s the season of giving with Christmas approaching, and Fipp gifted several media members, who have had to work in a cold garage in the back of the team training facility thanks to COVID-19 protocols, with space heaters:
Lions special teams coach Dave Fipp bought a few of us space heaters because we've worked in a garage this season. https://t.co/rQEaG0AyQx pic.twitter.com/pkXVOfEK3I
— Justin Rogers | Detroit News (@Justin_Rogers) December 23, 2021
STC Dave Fipp hooking up his fav media members with a heater after having to stand out in a cold garage for pressers 😂 Merry Christmas @ttwentyman!! pic.twitter.com/wFyXpmSUOz
— Dannie (@dannierogers___) December 23, 2021
Fipp came to the Lions this past offseason after having spent the last eight seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles in the same role.
– – Quotes via Detroit Lions Link – –
