The Detroit Lions and Houston Texans will reportedly face off in at least one joint practice prior to their preseason game.
The Detroit Lions will, indeed, hold a second set of joint practices this offseason. After the Miami Dolphins announced they will hold at least one joint practice with the Lions prior to their Week 3 preseason game, Houston Texans reporter Jonathan Alexander noted on Wednesday that the Texans and Lions will also be participating in joint practices prior to the team’s preseason finale.
“The final details are being ironed out, but it’s happening,” Alexander added via Twitter.
UPDATE: During a press conference on Wednesday, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed that it will be a single session against the Lions.
“We’ll be doing joint practices with the Panthers and with the Lions this training camp. So we’ll do one day with both teams,” Ryans said. “Excited to work against those teams. You get different defensive looks from both teams, different offensive looks, and you get to do it in a competitive environment where you’re not live on the quarterback. So it’s the safest way, and I feel like we can get in really good work for our starters against other teams.”
Ryans later added:
“We know what the Lions are about. Coach Campbell and his energy, his spirit as a head coach, it’s just second to none.”
This matches expectations given from Lions coach Dan Campbell earlier in the season. During the owners meetings in April, Campbell noted that they were in the process of planning a pair of joint practices this offseason, but weren’t ready to announce it.
“We’ve got something in the works. We’ll see what happens,” Campbell said.
The good news for Detroit Lions fans is that both the Dolphins and the Texans will play their preseason matchup against the Lions in Detroit. That means the joint practices will take place at the team’s facility in Allen Park, and there’s a good chance fans will be able to watch them live and in person.
Last year, the Lions were able to hold just a single set of joint practices, as the Chiefs and Steelers declined. Their only set of joint practices took place against the Giants in New Jersey. This year, Detroit will get plenty of preseason work against opponents. Not only will they have this extra set of joint practices, but they also are participating in an extra preseason game, having been chosen for the annual Hall of Fame Game to kick off the NFL’s preseason schedule.
