Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell’s commitment to his friends remains unwavering.
Just one day after receiving praise from his former boss, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton, for his efforts in revamping the Lions, Campbell announced that his team will engage in joint practices with the New York Giants this summer. These sessions are set for the first week of the preseason at the Lions’ Allen Park facility, as confirmed by Lions president Rod Wood.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Campbell and the Giants had arranged these joint practices before the NFL suggested last week that teams should schedule such sessions later in the preseason to better address health and safety concerns.
“I’m aware of the recommendation,” Campbell noted. “Our joint practices are planned to be during the first preseason game. We coordinated this with the Giants before the recommendation came out.
We’ll approach these practices as we would any other, remaining mindful and adjusting based on feedback. We are committed to player safety and recovery, and while we aim to conduct effective practices, we also want to avoid overworking our starters.”
The NFL recommends a gradual increase in practice intensity to prepare players for the regular season, but too much early intensity can be harmful.
Last season, the Giants finished with a 9-7-1 record, securing a playoff win against the Vikings before being defeated by the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles. The Lions had previously beaten the Giants 31-18 during the regular season.