Joint practices between NFL teams have become a preferred alternative to preseason games, according to reporting from multiple outlets covering the Patriots-Eagles and Falcons-Colts joint sessions. Yahoo Sports observed that these practices have "very clearly replaced preseason games in the eyes of NFL coaching staffs," suggesting the league may need to adapt its approach to the preseason structure.
The reporting indicates these joint practices are generating significant attention and detailed coverage. Both Yahoo Sports and Bleeding Green Nation provided extensive notes from the first day of the Patriots-Eagles joint practice in Foxborough, Massachusetts, characterizing the session as "action-packed." The Dolphins-Giants joint practice also drew coverage, with reporting noting specific "rules" governing the session.
While the reporting establishes that joint practices are garnering substantial focus from coaching staffs and media, the sources do not provide specific details about how this trend might reshape the NFL's preseason schedule or timeline.