Dave Fipp says what 'one area' special teams need to improve on going forward
Detroit Lions fans are well aware of the issues surrounding the offense and defense. The offense can be sluggish, especially on third downs. The defensive secondary is banged up. What about special teams? What does the special teams unit need to improve on the rest of the way?
Speaking with the media on Thursday, special teams coordinator Dave Fipp explained what he thought his unit needed to work on:
I think if you were saying, like, statistically, what could we do a little better? I would say punting the ball when it's really out on the field. So we've been exceptional, the best we've been probably since I've been here, with the ball around midfield. But when we've been backed up, we can gain some more yards on our net punt. That would probably be one area that I'd say we could improve a little on.
On the surface, his response can be unexpected. Punter Jack Fox is one of the league's best punters and was awarded First-Team All-Pro at the position last season. Fox also holds the NFL record for average yards per punt (48.6).
As for those midfield punts this season, Fipp wasn't kidding. Fox is on pace to shatter his career high in punts downed in the 20 (26) by almost double-digits. His 14 punts downed in the 20 already match his total in 2022. His percentage of punts downed in the 20 (51.9%) would also be a career high, surpassing his 48.9% from last season, and all this while not yet having a punt downed for a touchback.
However, many of Fox's numbers are down from his record-breaking effort last season. Fox is averaging 47.2 yards per punt, which is down from his 51.0 from last season. His net yards per punt are at 42.0, which is down from last season's 46.2, but is in line with his performance before last season.
Fox not matching last year's record totals is expected, but he's punting more than he usually does. Fox is averaging 3.86 punts per game -- a career high and over a punt more than last season (2.65). If the offense can address its own issues, this problem could fix itself as Fox would punt and be in those backed-up situations fewer times than he is now. For now, Fox's legendary leg is needed more than ever, but he may be getting some added help on Sunday.
Special teams reinforcements may be on the way
Any issues with the punting game can't be put entirely on Fox. He's not a player who is expected to make tackles, after all. The rest of the special team's unit, on both ends of the kicking spectrum, has its own jobs to do. A key player on that unit may be on the verge of returning.
Special teams specialist Sione Vaki has been a limited participant in practice as of Wednesday and could return on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings for a key divisional game. The second-year Vaki, who played both running back and safety in college, has been limited to one game this season, where he recorded one tackle against the Baltimore Ravens before suffering a groin injury. In 16 games last season, Vaki had eight tackles and a forced fumble, becoming a star on the Lions' special teams unit.
When asked about Vaki's impending return and how much that could impact the special teams unit, Fipp compared it to the impact of having multiple great wide receivers on an offense:
The more talent you have across the board, the more it takes off of everybody else also. So it's not only, like, 'Oh yeah, we're getting this guy back and he can make a lot of plays,' but then he also takes some of the stress off of Grant Stuard or these other guys. You know, and now it's like they got more guys they got to worry about, you only have so many resources. You can't double everybody. So now somebody's getting a one-on-one, who's getting that one-on-one? And how you match up against that guy.
Special teams are an unsung hero of the Lions' success in recent years. So long as the offense remains sluggish, the punting unit will need to be depended on more. If that net yards punting can increase, particularly when backed up, that can give the injury-riddled defense more breathing room to make a stop and take pressure off the offense. Anything that can help those two units will go a long way toward finally winning a Super Bowl.
Bills Legend Eric Moulds Sells Final Game-Worn Jersey to Support Teammate Battling Parkinson’s Disease
Buffalo, NY – November 1, 2025
In a gesture that’s brought a wave of emotion across
game-worn jersey from his final season to support a former teammate now facing the hardest battle of his life.
For fans who remember the late ’90s and early 2000s, Moulds was the lone constant in an era of instability. Known for his precision routes, contested catches, and quiet leadership, he became the franchise’s beacon of hope through years of quarterback turnover. From 1996 to 2005, he posted
675 receptions, 9,096 yards, and 48 touchdowns, including a historic 100-catch season in 2002, earning three Pro Bowl selections and a permanent place among the Bills’ all-time greats.
That former teammate is Takeo Spikes, the relentless linebacker who commanded Buffalo’s defense with passion and authority. During his time with the team (2003–2005), Spikes recorded over 200 tackles
, earned two Pro Bowls and an All-Pro selection in 2003, and became known as the emotional core of the defense — the “defensive quarterback” who brought fire to every down.
💬 “We carried this team through the storms — him on defense, me on offense,” Moulds said quietly. “Now that he’s fighting something far tougher than any Sunday battle, I want this jersey to fight for him — the same way he fought for Buffalo.”
Spikes, beloved for his intensity and leadership, has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a neurological disorder that has gradually affected his movement and coordination. Despite the diagnosis, those close to him say his trademark energy and optimism haven’t faded — he continues to train, mentor young athletes, and advocate for player health awareness.
Moulds’ decision to sell his final jersey isn’t about nostalgia — it’s about brotherhood. The proceeds from the auction will go directly to the Bills Alumni Health & Wellness Fund
, supporting Spikes’ treatment and ongoing medical research into Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative conditions among retired NFL players.
💬 “This jersey carried our pride, our pain, and our fight,” Moulds reflected.
