Tag: joint practice

McCarthy reveals rinse-and-repeat plan for Cowboys starters vs Chargers

Like last week in Denver, McCarthy will use starters in joint practices this week, but save Saturday’s game snaps for rookies and backups. | From @ToddBrock24f7

The Cowboys will be living out of their suitcases for one more week as they lay their heads in several different cities over the course of just a few days.

They returned to training camp following their preseason loss in Denver. After the final couple of days in Oxnard, they’ll head two hours down the California coast for joint practices with the Los Angeles Chargers on Wednesday and Thursday. And it all wraps up with their second preseason game, at SoFi Stadium on Saturday night, before players and coaches finally head back home to the Metroplex.

Despite the rapid-fire change of scenery around them, the team will be on a rinse-and-repeat plan when it comes to what happens on the gridiron.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has confirmed that he expects most of his starters to get the bulk of the work in closely-controlled scrimmages with the Chargers, reserving Saturday night’s game snaps primarily for backups and rookies.

“We want to work the first group as much as we can Wednesday and Thursday,” McCarthy told media members this week.

Last week’s joint session with the Broncos starters was marred by a half-dozen scuffles; it will be interesting to see what transpires over the course of consecutive practice days between the two squads.

While fans may have been ultimately underwhelmed by the Cowboys’ performance- and especially their 17 penalties- in Saturday’s 17-7 loss to the Broncos, the coach is choosing instead to focus on some of the positives he saw as things continue to ramp up toward the regular season.

“Tackling as a whole, as a fundamental, we were plus-double-digits as far as missed tackles compared to broken tackles. Anytime you’re double digits as a team, that’s a good day,” McCarthy explained. “I don’t know if I ever recall only having two missed tackles in the first preseason game. Lot of positive components of the game that we can build off of.”

As far as personnel, backup quarterback Will Grier is progressing toward being ready to participate in both the practices and Saturday night’s game after a groin injury kept him sidelined in Denver. He was taking snaps in Tuesday’s final Oxnard walkthrough.

Newly-signed linebacker Anthony Barr should take part in his first individual drills since joining the Cowboys earlier this month. The coaching staff took a careful approach to ease the four-time Pro Bowler back into action after a torn pectoral muscle prematurely ended his 2021 season in Minnesota eleven months ago.

McCarthy said that safety Jayron Kearse, who is nursing a sore back, is not expected to play at all this week. Left tackle Tyron Smith, who came away from the Denver game with a limp, should be back at work on Wednesday.

The meetings with the Chargers will be of critical importance for players who are fighting for a spot on the team. After the roster was trimmed by five names Monday, another five cuts are due Aug. 23. That’s the same day that the Cowboys hold their first public practice of the summer at their home facility in Frisco.

[pickup_prop id=”20683″]

[listicle id=700489]

[listicle id=700463]

[listicle id=700395]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Live updates from Packers’ joint practice No. 1 with Saints

Follow along with all the live news and updates from the Packers’ first joint practice with the Saints on Tuesday.

The Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints are holding the first of two joint practices on Tuesday morning at Ray Nitschke Field in Green Bay.

Follow along below as we provide live updates from the practice on Tuesday:

– Packers coach Matt LaFleur said the two teams will skip one-on-one drills and will instead jump right into team periods to help avoid escalating tempers and creating fights.

– LaFleur said Elgton Jenkins, Robert Tonyan and Christian Watson won’t be participating in 11-on-11 periods. The trio came off the PUP list on Sunday and will only do individuals.

– Saints quarterback Jameis Winston, who is dealing with a foot injury, is in pads on Tuesday, per Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Andy Dalton was still the Saints No. 1 quarterback.

– The Packers released tight end Dominique Dafney, running back BJ Baylor and offensive lineman George Moore before Tuesday’s practice to get the roster to 85 players.

– The Packers also released rookie linebacker Ellis Brooks.

– Here’s Aaron Rodgers getting ready for the first joint practice.

– Rookie Romeo Doubs already causing havoc. He forced a defensive pass interference penalty against Marshon Lattimore in 11-on-11.

– Sloppy start for the Packers offense vs. the Saints. Several penalties, per Andy Herman.

– A good stretch from the No. 1 defense, including several disruptive plays.

– Backup safety Shawn Davis created a pick-six of Saints quarterback Ian Book.

– The Packers defense is making life difficult on Dalton and the Saints.

– Another day, another touchdown for Romeo Doubs.

– More positive signs from rookie Kingsley Enagbare. He’s really stacking good days.

– Potential injury situation for rookie receiver Danny Davis.

– More hard count magic from 12.

– Lazard carving up the Saints, as is tradition. Big play in the two minute.

– Here’s something to monitor: Rashan Gary is dealing with some type of new injury.

– A breakup from Jaire Alexander wins the two-minute period for the Packers defense.

– Defensive lineman TJ Slaton ended practice with a sack. His arrow is pointed straight up right now.

[lawrence-related id=83058]

WATCH: Ezekiel Elliott takes big shot from LB Bradley Chubb in testy Cowboys/Broncos practice

Elliott popped up afterward and had a few words with the Denver LB in a joint practice that featured several other skirmishes. | From @ToddBrock24f7

The coaches warned their players about letting things get too physical, even though both knew there would be pads a-popping when the Cowboys and Broncos scheduled a joint practice for Thursday.

It didn’t take long for the rough stuff to start. And perhaps the biggest hit of the day was absorbed by one of the Cowboys’ primary playmakers.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott was leveled by Denver linebacker Bradley Chubb as he attempted to cut back on a toss play.

In the grand scheme of football things, it wasn’t a particularly vicious hit; Chubb threw a shoulder into Elliott but didn’t launch himself or wrap him up and land on him.

Indeed, training camp brawls have started over far less. But in the heightened setting of a preseason practice, it was a harder hit than was necessary under the circumstances… and enough to get a look-at-me dance out of Chubb.

The video shows Elliott exchanging words with Chubb as the players went back to their respective huddles.

Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reports that, according to Chubb, Elliott said to him, “You ain’t got to do that.”

The linebacker’s reply to Elliott, “My bad, bro,” before adding to reporters as he recounted the story, “You’ve got to keep ’em up.”

Finally, he added, “At the end of the day, it’s all love.”

Elliott, it should be noted, seemed unaffected by the hit and went on with practice.

Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons could have returned the favor against Broncos quarterbacks, including star Russell Wilson, after coming free on several pass rushes. Last season’s Defensive Rookie of the Year pulled up before ever delivering the boom, though.

Most of the day’s scuffles came in the second hour of practice and were between offensive and defensive linemen. All were quickly broken up before they escalated into full-blown fights.

[pickup_prop id=”26795″]

[listicle id=700241]

[listicle id=700222]

[listicle id=700159]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Cowboys lose 2 players to injury in practice vs Broncos

Rookie NT John Ridgeway appeared to suffer a leg injury; TE Ian Bunting took a hard hit on a punt return. Both left the field on their own. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Thursday’s much-anticipated joint practice between the Cowboys and Broncos featured plenty of chippiness, a few minor skirmishes, and two Cowboys players who appear to have suffered injury scares.

Tight end Ian Bunting took a hard shot while blocking on a punt return. According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, a cart was driven onto the field, but the undrafted fourth-year man out of Michigan was eventually able to walk off on his own.

Reports after practice reveal that Bunting is dealing with some neck soreness, but X-rays were negative.

Rookie nose tackle John Ridgeway also took a blow during a different portion of work. He looked to sustain some sort of injury to his right leg during the defense’s 11-on-11 period with the Denver offense. He, too, left the practice field under his own power with trainers and headed for the locker room.

The Arkansas lineman came into camp with a nasty reputation and is quickly living up to it. He scuffled with his own teammates this past week in Oxnard.

Both players will reportedly remain under observation from trainers as the Cowboys prepare to play the Broncos on Saturday in the preseason opener for both teams.

[listicle id=700241]

[listicle id=700222]

[listicle id=700163]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Broncos OLB Bradley Chubb decks Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott at joint practice

BOOM!

That’s the kind of hit that can start a fight!

The Denver Broncos hosted the Dallas Cowboys for a joint training camp practice on Thursday and the practice featured several fights between Denver’s defense and Dallas’ offense.

The Cowboys’ media team streamed the practice, so one of the Broncos’ big hits on defense was caught on film. Denver outside linebacker Bradley Chubb blew up Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott, and the play has been shared multiple times on Twitter by fans who tuned into the stream.

The Broncos’ defense has historically been a tough opponent for Zeke and the Cowboys’ offense. Elliott has been limited to 3.11 yards per carry in two career games against Denver, both losses. Overall, Dallas hasn’t beaten the Broncos since 1995.

Denver will host the Cowboys in their preseason opener on Saturday. There’s been no word yet on whether Chubb or Elliott will suit up, but Thursday’s practice certainly had some game-like hits.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[pickup_prop id=”24728″]

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Fights break out at joint practice between Broncos and Cowboys

Fight!

The Denver Broncos had an eventful final day of training camp.

Denver hosted the Dallas Cowboys at practice on Thursday ahead of their preseason showdown on Saturday. The Broncos’ defense apparently had several scuffles with the Cowboys’ offense during the joint practice session.

Andrew Mason of 104.3 The Fan tweeted that it was “one of the most out-of-control” practices he’s ever witnessed. At one point, the benches cleared after Denver’s defense rolled into quarterback Dak Prescott, according to Mike Fisher of Sports Illustrated.

Mason tweeted that there were seven dust-ups at practice, all of them between the Broncos’ defense and the Cowboys’ offense. Denver defensive lineman Marquiss Spencer was apparently at the middle of several of the scuffles.

Fortunately, Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett said the team left Thursday’s practice without any injuries.

We’ll see if the emotion from Thursday’s practice carries over into Saturday’s preseason game at Empower Field at Mile High.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[pickup_prop id=”26795″]

[listicle id=684178]

Broncos training camp: Live updates from joint practice with Cowboys

The final day of Broncos training camp has arrived. Follow the link to view updates from today’s joint practice with Dallas.

The Denver Broncos will wrap up training camp on Thursday with Day 14 of practice. Denver will host the Dallas Cowboys for a joint practice session ahead of their preseason showdown on Saturday.

Gates to the practice field will open to fans at 9 a.m. and parking will be available at 13403 Broncos Parkway beginning at 8 a.m.

Practice will begin at 10 a.m. and will run until 12:40 p.m. Fans can follow along with live updates from Twitter below.

Following today’s practice, the Broncos will have a day off Friday before their preseason opener on Saturday (view the full preseason schedule here).

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[listicle id=683691]

McCarthy, Cowboys look to ‘push the envelope’ vs. Denver in joint practice

Thursday’s joint practice was designed to give both teams’ starters more work than a typical preseason game, but things will get heated. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Thursday’s joint practice between the Cowboys and Broncos has been designed to give both teams’ starting rosters a more gamelike workload than their regular intrasquad sessions or even a full preseason contest.

But it won’t resemble a “scrimmage” the way most fans think of that word.

For one, the two-hour practice will be spread across two different fields at UCHealth Training Center the Broncos’ complex in the Denver suburb of Englewood. The rosters and the starting quarterbacks will reportedly be split between them; Dak Prescott on one field, and Russell Wilson on the other. So fans hoping to see a head-to-head QB competition will instead have to choose which offensive/defensive matchup to watch.

As for fans, the event is expected to see heavy attendance. Mike Klis of Denver’s 9News reported that plenty of fans- mostly sporting the star, he noted- were lining up almost three hours prior to the start of practice in hopes of seeing their heroes in action.

And both the Cowboys and Broncos plan to give their starters a good day’s work, saving Saturday’s preseason game for younger players looking to claim a roster spot.

That’s quite a departure from the more traditional approach of playing starters for the opening drive of the first preseason contest and then benching them. But the Cowboys skipper hints that carefully controlled joint practices like Thursday’s with Denver (and next week’s with the Chargers) may be becoming the norm. And for good reason.

“I never liked the hey-play-the-guys-for-a-series, and I did it,” Mike McCarthy told the media this week. “It doesn’t make a lot of sense to give a group of guys one series.”

Three snaps against players wearing different jerseys doesn’t make much of a difference with a veteran like, say, Prescott.

“It’s not how much he plays, it’s who he plays with,” McCarty explained. “Training camp has injuries. You don’t practice as much [as the old days]. I think it’s harder to get the group of guys on the field at the same time to accomplish that. That’s why I like what we’re trying this year. We’re going to get a little safer environment, but we’ll get those reps.”

Broncos first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett agrees and is looking forward to hosting the Cowboys.

“I’m lucky to, in the past, also be a part of a lot of intersquad scrimmages, and I think it’s fantastic work,” Hackett said, per Denver7’s Troy Renck. “I just think it’s great for both units, to be able to protect them and still get that work in like if it was a real game.”

Even though Thursday’s dual-practice session will be a closely monitored affair, things are sure to get heated, in more ways than one.

Temperatures in Denver are predicted to be in the upper 90s during the Cowboys’ visit, with heat indices pushing toward 100 degrees. Not quite what awaits them back in North Texas, but a far cry from what the Cowboys have been enjoying thus far in Oxnard.

The mercury won’t be the only thing rising at Thursday’s joint practice. Tempers will most certainly flare once the opposing teams square off wearing helmets and pads.

The Cowboys did plenty of pushing and shoving just amongst themselves in their Tuesday walkthrough. And while McCarthy doesn’t want to see anyone get hurt by throwing punches or brawling, he admits that he loved seeing the intensity ratchet up as the team’s date with Denver drew closer.

“Hell yeah,” the coach shot back during a Wednesday Q&A. “You can’t get to where you want to go without it. That’s football. You talk about getting on the edge and playing with that… we want to push the envelope, always, in the realm of emotion and competition. That’s what training camp’s for.”

And that’s what Thursday’s long-awaited joint practice will deliver.

Even if it looks very different from what the Cowboys have experienced up to now.

[pickup_prop id=”26795″]

[listicle id=700241]

[listicle id=700222]

[listicle id=700217]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Broncos hoping for ‘great competition’ in joint practice with Cowboys

“Going against different people is always great,” Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett said ahead of today’s joint practice with the Cowboys.

The Denver Broncos are set to host the Dallas Cowboys for a joint training camp practice on Thursday morning ahead of their preseason showdown on Saturday night.

Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett is eager to watch his players go up against different players in practice on the final day of training camp, and he said he’s hoping to see “some great competition.”

“You want to see those guys step up,” Hackett said on Aug. 8. “The best thing about going against a team like Dallas — just going against different people is always great but it is also a completely different scheme than what we face. That is something we are always looking for. You go against this defense, day in and day out. You understand the intricacies on how to beat it, but now you are facing a completely different animal with what Dallas is going to bring in here.

“So [No.] 1, it’s about being able to adjust on all the things we have been working on up to this point, to now, completely different front structure and watch those guys compete and get after it together. Have a nice, good, clean practice that we can just see different guys attack others.”

After Thursday’s practice, Broncos players will have a day off on Friday followed by their first preseason game of the year on Saturday.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[pickup_prop id=”21491″]

[listicle id=684054]

Broncos set to host Cowboys for joint practice this week

“I’m excited about it and it’ll be a great practice,” Nathaniel Hackett said of Denver’s upcoming practice with Dallas.

The Denver Broncos are set to host the Dallas Cowboys for a joint practice on the final day of training camp.

Thursday’s session will give both teams a chance to practice against new formations and players ahead of their preseason showdown on Saturday.

“I’ve talked to coach [Mike] McCarthy,” Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett said last week. “I’ve known him my whole life. I’m so excited for them to come in here. Great friend, great family friend. I have known him forever. We’ve been talking quite a bit. We want to make sure it’s a great practice, just a lot like what we’re doing here.

“The brilliance of that is you get to see somebody different, and you get to see a defensive look that’s different. We’ve been going against these guys over and over and over again and we just want to see a different font structure and different coverage aspects from that standpoint. I’m excited about it and it’ll be a great practice.”

This will mark the third time Denver has held joint training camp practices with Dallas. The Cowboys are one of six teams who have practiced with the Broncos in the past ahead of a preseason game.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[listicle id=684054]