Category: Preseason

NFL shortens preseason, Bears will play just two games

The NFL is shortening the preseason to two weeks, essentially cancelling Week 1 and Week 4.

There had been discussions of the NFL potentially shortening the preseason to two games due to the coronavirus pandemic. Now, it sounds like the NFL is putting that plan into action.

According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, the NFL is shortening the preseason to two weeks, essentially cancelling Week 1 and Week 4.

Players will report to training camp on July 28, and the first preseason games won’t be played until Aug. 20-24. The second week of the preseason will take place Aug. 27-31.

As for how that impacts the Bears’ preseason schedule, it would effectively cancel their contests against Cleveland Browns in Week 1 and Tennessee Titans in Week 4.

That would mean Chicago’s preseason slate would feature an away game against the Denver Broncos (Week 2) and a home game against the San Francisco 49ers (Week 3).

While Bears head coach Matt Nagy has typically not put much stock into the preseason, that philosophy has changed since last season, where he rested most of his starters throughout the preseason. Nagy intended to utilize the preseason for roster battles and to get his guys back into the speed of the game.

A shortened preseason will certainly impact several roster battles, most notably the quarterback competition between incumbent starter Mitchell Trubisky and veteran Nick Foles. While the battle will start in training camp, the preseason figures to be the most important aspect of the competition as it will feature live-game reps.

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Report: NFL will cancel half the preseason schedule

The Browns lose a home game against Tampa Bay and a road date in Chicago

Numerous reports, including those from ESPN’s Kevin Seifert and Pro Football Talk, indicate the NFL is canceling half of the traditional 4-game preseason schedule. The exhibition games are the latest casualty of the coronavirus pandemic.

The reports indicate the league is trimming off the first and last weeks of the preseason schedule. For the Browns, that means a road trip to Chicago and a home date with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will no longer happen. The August 22nd game in Green Bay and the home contest with the Minnesota Vikings on August 30th are still set to run as scheduled.

In addition, the teams will travel the day before the games instead of heading in earlier. Joint practice sessions, a growing feature in recent years, were one of the first things the NFL cancelled earlier this offseason.

Report: Lions will lose preseason games against Patriots and Bills as NFL cancels 2 weeks

Report: Lions will lose preseason games against Patriots and Bills as the NFL cancels 2 weeks of the exhibition season

The NFL is shaving two games off the 2020 preseason schedule. Per reports from Kevin Seifert at ESPN and Pro Football Talk, the league will cut the exhibition season in half out of concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.

It will be the first and last preseason weeks that are getting the axe. That means the Lions will lose a road opener in New England and a home date against Buffalo that would have been the exhibition finale.

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Detroit still has preseason games against the New York Jets at home on August 20th and at the Miami Dolphins on August 27th during the preseason. There will also be no joint practices leading into those games.

The NFL has traditionally held four preseason games dating back over 40 seasons.

 

Lions rank an underwhelming 26th in Touchdown Wire’s summer power poll

Lions rank an underwhelming 26th in Touchdown Wire power poll

The first summer NFL power poll from our friends at Touchdown Wire is now out. If Lions fans are hoping for praise and optimism for the team after an active offseason of moves, this poll is probably going to disappoint.

Detroit checks in at No. 26 on the list. That is upward movement from finishing 30th in the NFL in 2019, but it’s not a significant climb. In fact, most of the teams they leapfrogged (Carolina, Jacksonville, New York Jets) have fallen more on their own issues than anything great Detroit has done.

The explanation begins with some bitterness that is a common national perception of the Lions under GM Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia,

Head coach Matt Patricia’s strategy of late has mirrored what most former Bill Belichick assistants have done — get rid of your best players who talk too much, and fill the roster with as many Patriots castoffs as possible.

It’s not all grim, but it’s clear just how much is riding on a healthy Matthew Stafford returning under center in 2020,

“the only way the Lions will ascend their 3-12-1 record in 2020 is for Matthew Stafford to return from his injury-shortened 2019 season and play at the career peak he was before a back injury limited him to just eight games.”

The Chiefs, Ravens, 49ers, Saints and Buccaneers are the top five. Cincinnati, Washington and the Jets are the bottom three.

Shortened preseason could affect Bears’ QB competition

With discussion about shortening the NFL’s preseason, it would be another blow to the Bears’ quarterback competition.

The Chicago Bears’ quarterback battle has already taken a hit with an entirely virtual offseason, which has stopped the competition from beginning until the team hits the field at training camp.

That meant that preseason games, which Bears coach Matt Nagy said would be key in determining the starter, would be even more valuable. But now, it sounds like there’s a possibility that the preseason could be shortened.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the NFL and NFLPA are discussing the possibility of cutting the preseason in half, where teams would wind up playing two preseason games rather than four.

Typically, that would be something that would be welcomed with open arms. And while that’s surely the case with players, it doesn’t help Nagy when it comes to his most important preseason decision, which is determining the starting quarterback between Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles.

If the NFL winds up axing two of those preseason games, how will the Bears go about evaluating Trubisky and Foles?

First of it all, it would mean a lot less Tyler Bray, who typically gets the bulk of preseason snaps. Trubisky and Foles figure to get significant playing time in those two games, as there’s no substitute for in-game experience.

You’d assume Trubisky and Foles would each get a start, where they’d be facing the first-string defense, while the other would relieve the starter and face the second and third stringers. It’s fair to assume that both quarterbacks will each get a half to play.

But a shortened offseason could also affect Chicago’s offense as a whole. If Trubisky and Foles see extended playing time in those preseason games, expect to see more of Chicago’s starters on offense.

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Report: NFL and NFLPA considering a shortened preseason in 2020

Report: NFL and NFLPA considering a shortened preseason in 2020 due to coronavirus restrictions still in place in many cities

Could the Cleveland Browns get less preseason time with the new coaching staff? Based on a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, it might happen.

Pelissero is reporting that the NFL and NFLPA are considering reducing the 2020 preseason from four games down to two. It’s a concession to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions still in place in many NFL cities.

“Nothing finalized or imminent,” Pelissero said, “but multiple team executives informed of talks currently believe they could end up playing two preseason games, rather than four.”

It’s unknown which of the games would be trimmed. Right now, the Browns preseason schedule looks like this:

Week 1 – August 15, 1 p.m. at Chicago Bears

Week 2 – August 22, 4 p.m. at Green Bay Packers

Week 3 – August 30, 4 p.m. Minnesota Vikings

Week 4 – Sept. 3, TBD Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Players are still not allowed in team facilities other than to receive medical treatment. Just last week the NFL ruled there will be no joint practice sessions and all teams must hold training camps at their own home city facilities.

For a team like the Browns with an all-new coaching staff led by rookie coach Kevin Stefanski, the loss of actual game reps could be a major hindrance.

Report: NFL and NFLPA are contemplating a shortened preseason in 2020

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is reporting that the NFL and NFLPA are considering reducing the 2020 preseason from four games down to two.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is reporting that the NFL and NFLPA are considering reducing the 2020 preseason from four games down to two.

“Nothing finalized or imminent,” Pelissero said, “but multiple team executives informed of talks currently believe they could end up playing two preseason games, rather than four.”

Team facilities have slowly begun to open back up with several restrictions and limited staff. In the fall, each team will hold training camps in their own facilities, and shortening the preseason would allow teams a longer period of time to “ramp up” when players begin entering facilities.

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Currently, no decisions have been made, but by allocating extra time to prepare, the league may have a better chance to maintain the proposed 2020 regular-season schedule.

Here is how the Lions current 2020 preseason schedule is set up for now:

  • August 13, 7:30 p.m. – at New England Patriots
  • August 20, 8:00 p.m. – New York Jets
  • August 27, 7:30 p.m. – at Miami Dolphins
  • September 3, 7:00 p.m. – Buffalo Bills

At this time it’s not clear how this schedule will be adjusted, or if it will be at all, but it makes sense to allow as much time as possible to prepare this fall.

Bears QB competition will likely last deeper into preseason than previously expected

Bears coach Matt Nagy said he’ll probably need to see more of Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles in preseason games than previously expected.

All eyes will be glued to the Chicago Bears’ quarterback competition between Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles. Although we’ll have to wait until training camp to see — or hear — how it plays out.

With the shortened offseason — which has taken away valuable on-field work — the quarterback competition likely won’t begin until late July when the Bears kick-off training camp.

Bears coach Matt Nagy has already mentioned that this competition will carry into preseason, which serves to be the best judge of how these quarterbacks are working in this offense. But it sounds like this quarterback competition could last well into preseason.

According to Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer, Nagy told him that he’ll probably need to see more of Trubisky and Foles in preseason games than previously expected, given that they’ve lost a significant amount of on-field work this offseason.

“When you have the offseason, you have the OTAs, what Mitch is going to be able to do with the players is show his improvement at that position. What Nick is going to be able to do with the players on the field at OTAs is show who he is as a quarterback and what his strengths are. And now, Mitch isn’t gonna be able to do that, and Nick isn’t gonna be able to do that. So it’s gonna be very important, whatever time we’re given.

“It’s just a fact, there’s just not going to be as much time for that to naturally happen and for us to see it. It’ll all play itself out, and because there’s zero agendas in this thing, and because there’s complete honesty, it’s very healthy. Credit to both of these guys, Mitch and Nick, they’re both really good people.”

The Bears offense had an overall disappointing 2019 season, where they were one of the worst in the league, but quarterback was a big concern. In trading for Foles, they have someone that can effectively run this type of offense and someone that can challenge Trubisky.

When Chicago is able to get back on the practice field, Nagy said that Trubisky will be the first guy lining up under center. Perhaps the same will be said when preseason kicks off, where both Trubisky and Foles will be battling for the starting job.

With the shortened offseason and limited on-field workouts, more preseason time for guys battling for starting spots could be felt around the entire NFL.

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Bears’ joint practices with Broncos no longer happening

The Bears had planned on holding joint practices with the Broncos in advance of their second preseason game, but those won’t be happening.

As training camp gets closer, the NFL is making plans to ensure that these activities can continue amid the coronavirus pandemic.

After sending a memo to NFL teams that summer training camps must be conducted at their team facilities, the league also informed teams that they will not be allowed to hold joint practices with other teams this summer.

The Bears had planned on holding joint practices with the Denver Broncos in advance of their second preseason game, something they’ve done in the past. Given former Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is Denver’s head coach, it only made sense to continue the tradition with the two teams facing off in the preseason.

Obviously, with this new memo, those joint practices won’t be happening. The NFL wants to ensure a safe environment for players, coaches and staff.

Chicago will travel to Denver to play the Broncos on Saturday, Aug. 22 in their second preseason contest.

Unlike the previous two preseasons, this one will mean a lot more for the Bears. The quarterback competition between Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles will begin in training camp and carry into preseason, where on-field action will help determine the Bears’ Week 1 starter against the Detroit Lions.

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Matt Nagy regrets resting starters during preseason in 2019

Unlike the last two years, Bears coach Matt Nagy will play his starters in preseason.

Matt Nagy’s philosophy of resting his starters during preseason has seen its share of criticism over the last two years. Following Nagy’s decision to sit his starters in the third game of the 2018 preseason, he took it a step further in 2019, where he essentially rested all of his starters for all four games.

Nagy’s reasoning was that it wasn’t putting his players at risk for injuries when the games don’t count, following preseason injuries to Leonard Floyd and Adam Shaheen in 2018.

While that reasoning certainly makes sense, it also hinders the purpose of the preseason for starters, which is to get back in the rhythm of the game. And there’s no denying that the Bears offense could’ve used that preparation considering the horrendous season they had in Year 2 of Nagy’s scheme.

But Nagy will approach this preseason differently, opting to play his starters and give them valuable reps. While you figure some players won’t have substantial playing time in preseason, including defensive stars Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks, the offense is certainly the unit that would benefit from that preparation and figuring things out early.

When talking with the Waddle & Silvy Show last Friday, Nagy said that he ultimately regretted his decision to rest his starters during last preseason, citing the experience and mentality as reasons why that’s going to change this year.

“As we talk, that’s one of the things that I look back at from last year that I’m not happy about that I made a decision to do in the preseason,” Nagy said, via Bryan Perez of NBC Sports. “No. 1, I think it’s good for them to have it, but No. 2 it sets the mentality. So that’s not going to happen this year.”

Another reason that the preseason is shaping up to be different this year are the position battles set to unfold, including most notably the quarterback competition between Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles. That battle will play into the preseason, where the on-field action will help determine who lines up under center for Week 1 against Detroit.

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