More NFL starters to skip preseason games as surging joint practices supplant exhibitions

The Washington Commanders open preseason action on Friday against the New England Patriots. But star quarterback Jayden Daniels likely won’t play in the exhibition game. He’ll get his work in during a joint practice between the two teams on Wednesday.

Coach Dan Quinn’s Commanders — who will host the Baltimore Ravens for another joint practice this month — are only the latest team taking full advantage of the growing trend.

Around the NFL, more teams are sitting their starters on the bench for most of their preseason games. Instead, they’re hosting a rising amount of joint practices that allow coaches increased control over personnel, situations and matchups without the injury risks of a live game.

Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay has led the charge since joining Los Angeles in 2017. The offensive guru has made a habit of resting key players during preseason games to avoid any injury risks. Instead, the Rams schedule joint practices with the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys, who both host training camp in Southern California.

“Those [joint] practices, in essence, supplement the preseason games for us,” McVay said Monday. “We heavily lean towards getting more reps for our starters, and so that’s been something that we feel like has served us well, but it still is in a controlled setting.”

The Ravens have long taken a similar approach under coach John Harbaugh. Despite boasting a 24-game preseason winning streak between 2016 and 2023, the Ravens’ top players rarely saw action in August.

Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson will get his biggest warm-up work away from cheering fans.

“I told the guys, ’There are two games this week. It’s on Tuesday and Thursday,’” Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr said, referring to the joint practice and exhibition against the Indianapolis Colts. “And I just told them … every single time you step onto that field, you’re fighting for your career.”

This year, 29 teams will participate in 24 joint practice sessions. Fewer than half of the league’s 32 teams participated in similar events in 2019.

Five years ago, Quinn was the coach of an Atlanta Falcons squad that didn’t participate in a single joint practice.

Now he relishes the opportunity to give his players fresh competition.

“When you’re here, OK, ’I have a sense what he’s like. I have a sense of what the next person’s like.’ So, a different defensive front, how they align would be different than how we do, or a different style of player some of you haven’t gone against,” he said. “So, there’s definitely things to gain as you’re going through that.”

The offensive and defensive lines, with the special teams units, will get the most clarity from the intersquad work.

But the joint practice also allows the Commanders to put their practice culture to the test in a new environment. Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. have emphasized a competitive spirit and full-speed approach to practices throughout the offseason.

“It’s just good to go against new bodies and now you can see: are we doing what we need to do or are we just used to playing a certain group of guys?” Whitt said. “Can we play our play style on the road? Can we travel with it?”

The NFL might be a copycat league, but almost every trend will feature at least one coach swimming against the current. This preseason, it’s Bengals coach Zac Taylor.

The McVay disciple has struggled through slow starts during each of the last three regular seasons after resting his starters during the August exhibition games. He’s taking a different approach this year.

Fans will see quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase for “several series” during Thursday’s preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, Taylor said Tuesday. He plans to play them even longer during the Aug. 18 game against the Commanders.

Taylor will use the preseason for its intended purpose — as a dress rehearsal for the games that matter.

“As much as we practice it and do it, it’s not the same feel,” he said. “So, I think just those 11 guys being in the huddle on both sides of the ball and all the communication that’s got to occur. It’s just a good opportunity for those guys to get some additional reps.”