Expanded NFL Training
NFL Announces 2026 Training Camp Dates, Significantly Expanding Joint Practices
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Key Points
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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen, in his second year, has agreed to participate in a joint practice for every week of the preseason, building on last season when the team traveled to Miami for joint practices.
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Bengals head coach Zac Taylor emphasized unity across the organization in the offseason, stating that the group is ready to work, as Cincinnati schedules a joint practice with the Bears for August 20—the fourth joint practice of Taylor's tenure.
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Tennessee Titans training camp will be held at the Vanderbilt Health Football Center, and the team will host joint-practice sessions with all three of its preseason opponents.
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For Jacksonville, a specific joint-practice date is listed for Aug. 15 at New Orleans (4:00 PM ET, FOX30), providing a concrete preseason session ahead of the Jaguars' games.
The NFL has released its official 2026 training camp schedule for all 32 teams, with rookie report dates ranging from July 17 to July 25 and veterans arriving a few days later, according to NFL.com. The headline development: teams are stacking up joint practices at a record pace, turning what used to be meaningless August exhibitions into high-intensity, game-like sessions against real opponents.
Jacksonville leads the charge, scheduling a joint practice for every week of the preseason — the most aggressive model in the league. The Bengals, Titans, and 49ers are all following suit, signaling that the era of starters logging heavy minutes in preseason games may be over for good.
Jacksonville's Every-Week Joint Practice Model Sets New Standard
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen, now in his second year, is pushing the joint-practice concept further than any coach before him. "We found last year in Miami that the intensity of a joint session exceeds what we can replicate internally," Coen said, per Big Cat Country. "This year, we are doing it every week." Jacksonville rookies report July 25, with veterans following on July 28.
The Jaguars have three joint practices on the books this preseason — one before each preseason game. A highlighted session is set for August 15 at New Orleans, kicking off at 4:00 PM ET on FOX30. The fact that a local TV network is now broadcasting a practice — not a game — shows how much these sessions have grown in profile, according to Sports Yahoo.
Bengals and Titans Build Culture Through Joint Sessions
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor is framing joint practices as a culture tool, not just a football strategy. "Our group is ready to work," Taylor said, per 49ers Web Zone. "The Bears offer a unique look that will challenge our offensive line early." The Bengals will host the Chicago Bears on August 20 in Cincinnati — the fourth joint practice of Taylor's time as head coach. Bengals rookies report July 25 and veterans July 28.
In Nashville, the Tennessee Titans are hosting all three of their preseason opponents for joint sessions at the Vanderbilt Health Football Center. Rookies report July 23 and veterans July 28. Head coach Brian Callahan is leaning into the "Nashville environment" as a competitive edge. The Nashville Chamber of Commerce expects the back-to-back visitor weeks to boost local sports tourism during the late-summer slow season, according to Sports Illustrated.
Seahawks and 49ers Start Early, Target Mid-August Reps
The Seattle Seahawks have the earliest camp start in the league, with rookies reporting July 17 — the earliest the franchise has opened camp in five years. Veterans arrive July 24. The San Francisco 49ers are close behind, with rookies reporting July 18 and veterans on July 25, according to 49ers Web Zone. 49ers GM John Lynch pushed for the early dates to give a big, high-priced roster time to acclimate.
San Francisco's joint practices begin in mid-August, giving new arrivals roughly three weeks of internal work before facing outside competition. The early reporting window also gives the coaching staff more time to evaluate 90-man rosters before the final 53-man cut deadline at the end of August.
Why the Preseason Game Is Losing Its Starring Role
The shift toward joint practices is rooted in injury math. With the NFL regular season now at 17 games — and an 18-game schedule discussed — coaches are reluctant to risk starters in low-stakes August games against players who won't make the final roster. Joint practices let coaches blow the whistle before a quarterback takes a hit, giving them game-speed looks with less physical risk.
Not everyone is on board. Some coordinators, mainly in the AFC North, worry that joint practices hand opponents a free scouting session — a chance to film your players and study your schemes. Veterans have also raised concerns about fights breaking out when competition heats up with no referees to enforce rules, according to Sports Yahoo. But if injury rates drop in September 2026, the league-wide expansion of joint practices is expected to become permanent.
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