Patriots hosting joint practices with Lions, Titans in August
The New England Patriots have announced they will hold joint practices with both the Detroit Lions and the Tennessee Titans across two weeks in August.
The New England Patriots are back at it again, scheduling sparring dates with not one but two other NFL franchises this summer as they turn their focus to training camp and the preseason – the last hurdles before the 2019 regular season finally gets back underway in early September.
From 2012-2017, the Patriots held joint practices with at least one opponent they found on their preseason schedule in the days leading up to the actual exhibition game. Notable past adversaries in this department include Sean Payton’s New Orleans Saints, Bill O’Brien’s Houston Texans, and Chip Kelly’s Philadelphia Eagles.
Last summer, for the first time since 2011, New England didn’t end up with any joint practices on the schedule. Obviously it didn’t doom the team down the stretch, as the Pats still ended up capturing their sixth NFL championship, but still – it’s hard to argue against the benefits players get from having someone other than themselves to scrimmage against, week after week.
So to no great surprise, the Patriots are back in the swing of things with the joint practice sessions this year. They’re reportedly already made plans to lock horns with the Tennessee Titans in the days leading up to their August 17 contest; and now, the club has officially announced their intention to practice against the Detroit Lions in the week leading up to their first preseason game against one another on August 8.
New England and Detroit have tentatively agreed to practice Monday, August 5, Tuesday, August 6, and Wednesday, August 7, at 9:30 am EST on all three days. The first practice date is reserved for Lions season-ticket holders, but the following two dates are open to the general public and to fans of both teams.
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The dates for the practices against the Titans have not been made available as of yet.
Both the Lions and the Titans have obvious ties to the Patriots, with multiple players, coaches, and team executives having previously occupied roles in New England before departing for either Detroit or Nashville. Most obviously, Lions head coach Matt Patricia was the Patriots’ defensive coordinator, and Titans head coach Mike Vrabel was a linebacker and team captain with the Patriots for many years.