No joint practices in 2026 could be a blessing in disguise for the Lions

Joint practices are one of the most entertaining parts of training camp. Players finally get to go up against competition from another organization, and tempers often flare due to the intensity.

The Detroit Lions have traditionally partaken in joint practices during the Dan Campbell era, but the Lions head coach announced on Monday at the owners' meetings in Arizona that 2026 will be different.

Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press was among those at the league meetings and noted on X that, among the things Campbell mentioned, was that there will be no joint practices scheduled for 2026.

In his full article on the matter, Birkett shares Campbell's full thoughts on the change:

"I felt like we got two really good years of it, man, like, we’re really getting something out of this. And then as it kind of went on, we got into that third year, whatever that was, or ’24, I don’t know, it just felt counterproductive, man. It didn’t feel like we were getting what I thought we would get out of it, and part of me was like, I think we would have gotten more -- we’d have gotten an extra practice, and we’d have gotten more done had we just gone against ourselves."

The Lions did not hold a joint practice in 2021, Campbell's first year with the team, but held at least one in every season since. That includes multiple in 2025, one against the Miami Dolphins and another against the Houston Texans.

Fans may remember the Dolphins' joint practice as that big taste of hope, after the Lions' offense decimated the Dolphins' defense. That practice also gave way to the "Hutch Rule," where the play continues after Hutchinson beat his offensive lineman, notably new Lions tackle Larry Borom.

The Texans' joint practice was noteworthy for its intensity and frequent fights. In hindsight, mingling with the Texans and learning more about the team may have played a factor in running back David Montgomery's desire to be traded there.

No joint practices could help with injuries

The lack of joint practices may initially come as a disappointment to fans, but it could be highly beneficial in the long-term. The Lions have had an issue with injuries the past two seasons, and for the Lions' Super Bowl window to remain open, changes have to be made. It can't just be attributed to dumb luck.

In January, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner joined Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown on the St. Brown podcast and suggested that Campbell may need to rework how he goes about training camp and practices. Namely, eliminating full tackle practices.

With full tackle, practices are extremely physical and intense. Now, add in the element of joint practice. While they may not be full-tackle, the players are always trying to make a statement. They play extra hard during those joint practices because they don't want to get shown up by an opposing team, and they may not be as cautious of safety, given they're going up against someone not on their team.

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Without joint practices, Campbell did say that it does open the door for another big change, saying, "And then maybe we play some of these guys in the preseason more than we have." Campbell has typically avoided playing starters in the preseason, but this change could allow the team to be better prepared for the regular season, even if that brings its own injury risks.

If nothing else, it's evident that Campbell and the organization aren't entirely complacent. They recognize that changes need to be made in how they approach the season. Smaller, under-the-radar changes like not having joint practices could add up and impact the 2026 Lions in a positive way.

Training camp is set to begin in mid-July with pre-season games kicking off in mid-August, so expect to see more of those under-the-radar changes as the 2026 Lions begin to take shape.