Latest news with #jointpractices
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vrabel's face bloodied breaking up NE-WAS fight
Mike Florio and Chris Simms discuss why there are no real punishments for fights in joint practices and how Mike Vrabel is the perfect coach to break up a fight.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers Joint Practice 2025 Live Updates
The Cleveland Browns are getting set to take on the Carolina Panthers in their preseason opener on Friday, but ahead of that, they are completing two days of joint practices in North Carolina. These joint practices tend to be more beneficial than the preseason game itself. The Browns have already revealed fifth round quarterback Shedeur Sanders as their starter for the preseason opener, and that is because Joe Flacco is going to get the bulk of the work in these joint practices with the Panthers. We will get a good indication of how the Browns look both offensively and defensively from these practices, more so than in the game. This is the first time rookie projected starters like defensive tackle Mason Graham and linebacker Carson Schwesinger will get to go against a player with a different helmet on than their own at the NFL level. The Panthers also boast a first round wide receiver for Denzel Ward and company to lock up, as well as two Day 2 pass rushers for Dawand Jones to prove his worth against. So keep up with this live story as the Browns and Panthers get ready for a physical set of practices. Be sure to check back in as practice gets started! Browns limiting Greg Newsome II, among other joint practice injury notes The Browns are going to hold a few players out of practice against the Panthers. Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate, running back Pierre Strong Jr., and offensive guard Zak Zinter will not participate in Wednesday's practice. Cornerback Greg Newsome II and defensive lineman Sam Kamara will be limited for the Browns. Rain falls as Browns and Panthers get set for battle The weather is fighting the Browns and Panthers as they get set to go head-to-head in this joint practice. Both Carolina and Cleveland beat reporters have stated that the rain is holding off, however, as the two sides get set to start practice at 10am ET. Browns HC Kevin Stefanski speaks to the media Speaking to the media prior to practice, head coach Kevin Stefanski has stated that only two quarterbacks will play on Friday night: Shedeur Sanders and Tyler Huntley. The head coach has stated that "by and large" most starters will not play in the preseason opener as they get their work in against the Panthers in these two joint practices. This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers Joint Practice 2025 Live Updates
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Joint practices give coaches a better way to evaluate starters in more competitive environment
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Baker Mayfield got in the middle of a scuffle and injured All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs went onto the field on a crutch to join his teammates. Welcome to joint practices. Players get an opportunity to hit opposing teams, which sometimes can lead to fighting. This was a minor tussle between the Buccaneers and Titans on Thursday. 'Everybody's in the skirmish,' Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. 'Nobody wants to throw a punch. It's not necessary. We're not trying to do that right there. They're not trying to do it as well. If it's hot and you got pads on, it's going to happen.' Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, a former All-Pro linebacker and two-time Coach of the Year in Tennessee, jumped into a pile of players and came out with a bloodied cheek at New England's practice with the Washington Commanders on Wednesday. But the main purpose of joint sessions is to give coaches a better way to evaluate starters in a more competitive environment than preseason games. Teams don't want future opponents to see much of their playbook in exhibitions and most coaches prefer to keep key starters out of harm's way so facing opponents within a controlled setting has become a priority for most teams. Overall, 29 of 32 NFL teams are holding joint practices this summer, up from 27 in 2023 and 23 in 2022. Only the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, and New Orleans Saints aren't doing them. Tampa Bay practiced against Tennessee two days ahead of the exhibition opener on Saturday night. Both teams also have joint practices scheduled next week with their opponents. 'These are all pretty standard in the sense that you're going to get most situational work, you get some base down, some third down, some red zone, a two-minute drill,' Titans coach Brian Callahan said. The New York Giants and Jets have two days of joint practices next week, one at each team's practice facility. Veteran Giants quarterback Russell Wilson has played long enough to appreciate the evolution of joint practices and their importance. The NFL decreased the preseason schedule to three games when the regular season went to 17 games and it'll likely be down to two exhibition games if the league goes to an 18-game season. That shift came as more teams were starting to lean on practices against opponents as their primary source of preparing quarterbacks and veteran starters for Week 1. 'I think the joint practices are great just because you get to go against another team, get to see, match up and just play football,' Wilson said. 'Once again, everything's about preparation, getting ready for the season.' The San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos held a joint practice on Thursday also ahead of their game on Saturday. They became the sixth pair of teams to do it already. 'I think it's really valuable,' Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said. 'Sometimes you can't do it. I always would like to do it. ... It's always good to go against different schemes, too. Different players. We're going against each other every day. Same guys, same scheme. It gets a little bit old and it's a good way to switch it up.' For a coach on a new team like Vrabel, facing another team in practice also helps build a foundation for his unit. The Patriots are coming off a terrible 4-13 season and Vrabel is aiming to change the culture. 'The goal is just to be able to put the identity out on the field against another team, to put the fundamentals that we put out there, the installation, to be able to do it against another defense, to be able to adjust to different play styles of players, players that maybe are longer or quicker or stronger, just different play styles of each player throughout this league,' Vrabel said. The league embraces joint practices from a player health and safety perspective because fewer starters are playing in preseason games and data has shown players are more susceptible to soft-tissue injuries early in the season if they don't hit similar load, speed and exertion levels in training camp. ___ AP NFL:
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Joint practices give coaches a better way to evaluate starters in more competitive environment
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Baker Mayfield got in the middle of a scuffle and injured All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs went onto the field on a crutch to join his teammates. Welcome to joint practices. Players get an opportunity to hit opposing teams, which sometimes can lead to fighting. This was a minor tussle between the Buccaneers and Titans on Thursday. 'Everybody's in the skirmish,' Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. 'Nobody wants to throw a punch. It's not necessary. We're not trying to do that right there. They're not trying to do it as well. If it's hot and you got pads on, it's going to happen.' Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, a former All-Pro linebacker and two-time Coach of the Year in Tennessee, jumped into a pile of players and came out with a bloodied cheek at New England's practice with the Washington Commanders on Wednesday. But the main purpose of joint sessions is to give coaches a better way to evaluate starters in a more competitive environment than preseason games. Teams don't want future opponents to see much of their playbook in exhibitions and most coaches prefer to keep key starters out of harm's way so facing opponents within a controlled setting has become a priority for most teams. Overall, 29 of 32 NFL teams are holding joint practices this summer, up from 27 in 2023 and 23 in 2022. Only the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, and New Orleans Saints aren't doing them. Tampa Bay practiced against Tennessee two days ahead of the exhibition opener on Saturday night. Both teams also have joint practices scheduled next week with their opponents. 'These are all pretty standard in the sense that you're going to get most situational work, you get some base down, some third down, some red zone, a two-minute drill,' Titans coach Brian Callahan said. The New York Giants and Jets have two days of joint practices next week, one at each team's practice facility. Veteran Giants quarterback Russell Wilson has played long enough to appreciate the evolution of joint practices and their importance. The NFL decreased the preseason schedule to three games when the regular season went to 17 games and it'll likely be down to two exhibition games if the league goes to an 18-game season. That shift came as more teams were starting to lean on practices against opponents as their primary source of preparing quarterbacks and veteran starters for Week 1. 'I think the joint practices are great just because you get to go against another team, get to see, match up and just play football,' Wilson said. 'Once again, everything's about preparation, getting ready for the season.' The San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos held a joint practice on Thursday also ahead of their game on Saturday. They became the sixth pair of teams to do it already. 'I think it's really valuable,' Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said. 'Sometimes you can't do it. I always would like to do it. ... It's always good to go against different schemes, too. Different players. We're going against each other every day. Same guys, same scheme. It gets a little bit old and it's a good way to switch it up.' For a coach on a new team like Vrabel, facing another team in practice also helps build a foundation for his unit. The Patriots are coming off a terrible 4-13 season and Vrabel is aiming to change the culture. 'The goal is just to be able to put the identity out on the field against another team, to put the fundamentals that we put out there, the installation, to be able to do it against another defense, to be able to adjust to different play styles of players, players that maybe are longer or quicker or stronger, just different play styles of each player throughout this league,' Vrabel said. The league embraces joint practices from a player health and safety perspective because fewer starters are playing in preseason games and data has shown players are more susceptible to soft-tissue injuries early in the season if they don't hit similar load, speed and exertion levels in training camp. ___ AP NFL:
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Caleb Williams, Colston Loveland among Bears to watch in practice, game vs. Dolphins
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — At the start of training camp, Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said he would 'put a lot of weight' in joint practices. The Bears have two, starting Friday against the Miami Dolphins at Halas Hall ahead of Sunday's preseason opener. Then they have the same setup next week when the Buffalo Bills come to town. Advertisement 'It will be good for us to see that speed and just a little bit of a different style of offense and defense,' Johnson said Tuesday. 'And same thing with Buffalo. You talk about a team that is a perennial Super Bowl contender right now with Buffalo. So, really good talent, and I think it'll be a good measure for where we're at as a unit.' Thursday's practice was a shorter one in shells to prepare for what should be a long, physical preseason setting on Friday. Joint practices are getting more and more popular, allowing coaches to reduce snaps in the preseason games. 'It gets you going and it also gives players more opportunities to show what they can do,' defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said, 'especially with one less preseason game to help younger players be able to show what they can do against other competition and guys like myself always striving to get better to see how we stack up against somebody else. It's fun.' With two big opportunities against another NFL team, here are 10 players who could gain a lot by how they fare against the Dolphins this weekend. 1. QB Caleb Williams: The starting quarterback valued his preseason reps last summer, and he got more than the Bears might have planned in the second game against the Cincinnati Bengals. That joint practice was a little tough because it rained, and then in the game, the first-team offense could not get a first down, so Williams kept trotting out there. We'll see what the plan is for Week 1 of the preseason, but Williams gets to see a new defense and gets another set of opportunities to work on Johnson's play calls, getting in and out of the huddle, keeping an eye on the play clock and trying to make big plays. Camp hasn't been the smoothest for Williams, but he was sharp in Tuesday's physical practice. Maybe the competitive juices will help, too, on Friday and Sunday, to keep the offense moving while avoiding penalties and negative plays. Advertisement 2. LT Braxton Jones: This weekend should be the best opportunity yet for evaluation of the left tackle competition. Jones knows his experience will help him, but it'll be his first opponent since his ankle injury. Jones has been open in the past about his struggles with the bull rush. How he fares against that type of pass rush from Miami's front seven could play a role in the battle, too. 3. LT Ozzy Trapilo: Several rookies make this list, as we should learn a little more about them based on how they handle another NFL team. In Trapilo's case, he's done a nice job in practice thus far. It'll be a little different on Friday and Sunday. Can he use his 6-foot-8 height and length to fend off the Dolphins' edge rushers? Can he avoid penalties? He did both those well at Boston College, but this will be his first NFL action. 4. QB Tyson Bagent: If we're measuring player performance this summer on praise from coaches, Bagent is having a heck of a camp. 'Man, he's been phenomenal. I mean, he's smart as a whip,' Johnson said. 'Appreciate the seriousness and intent that he brings every time he walks into a room. Meeting room, walk-through, it doesn't matter. He's locked in. He's focused. I think his teammates feel that from him.' In the No. 2 quarterback battle, does Bagent need to show more than Case Keenum, who has years and years of tape? 5. CB Nahshon Wright: One of the surprises of camp, Wright has gotten the most reps as a starting outside cornerback in Jaylon Johnson's absence. 'He has been balling,' safety Kevin Byard said last month. 'He got a lot of turnovers in the spring. I have full trust in him. He's a veteran. He has been with (defensive backs coach) Al (Harris) in Dallas over there, so he already knows the defense, knows the technique and the things Al wants to get accomplished.' Wright is 6-4 and can use the joint practices to show he can contend with Miami's speedy receivers. 6. DE Dominique Robinson: Entering Year 4 with only two career sacks, and now with a new defensive staff, Robinson would be an easy candidate for the roster bubble. But he had a strong spring and has made some plays in camp. He's still competing to be the No. 3 with Austin Booker, making the Dolphins weekend a crucial one. 'He's still learning to play the defensive end position and every day he comes out here and works extremely hard,' defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said. 'He's smart and he has ability. And so if you're smart and you have ability and you're willing to work, I think you're going to get better. I think he's done that. So I'm anxious to see him play in games and see what that looks like.' Advertisement 7. TE Colston Loveland: It's early, but it's already apparent what Loveland can bring to Williams and this offense. He's a smooth strider and a big target. What will that look like against the Dolphins' linebackers and defensive backs? Loveland isn't fighting for a job, but it'll be a great experience for him to keep growing, especially after he missed spring practices. 8. RB Kyle Monangai: Roschon Johnson missed Thursday's practice with a foot injury, which meant more reps for the seventh-round pick out of Rutgers. Monangai took advantage of his starter's reps in the two-minute drill when he ran for a first down on third-and-short to set up an end-of-half field goal. He's already gotten some time with the first-team offense, and he might get even extra snaps if Johnson can't go. 'He's been awesome,' Williams said. 'Still learning, still a young guy. We've all been there. But he's been awesome. Very, very smart guy. Hard runner. He's gonna put his nose down and get the yardage we need.' 9. WR Luther Burden III: Every rep matters for someone like Burden, who missed all of spring and the beginning of training camp. As accomplished as he was in college, Burden will have to learn about coverages and how to handle physical corners. The Dolphins and Bills can start to get him ready for what he'll see from Minnesota in the season opener. 10. LB Noah Sewell: Similar to Robinson, a Day 3 draft pick who hadn't done much in his first couple of seasons, Sewell figured to have a lot of work to do with a new staff. But he's the leader in the clubhouse to be the starting strongside linebacker. While that position won't be on the field a ton, Sewell has earned it with his play, and maybe most importantly by finally staying healthy. He can keep proving it with some big hits against the Dolphins. (Top photo of Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent: Kamil Krzaczynski / Imagn Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
