Lions to hold joint practices with Raiders, Giants

For the third straight year, the Detroit Lions will be participating in joint practices with another team during the preseason. The team announced on Friday afternoon that they will join both the Raiders and the Giants in a set of five total practices prior to the preseason game against each of those opponents.

Here are the exact details from the team:

• Detroit will practice with Oakland on Tuesday, Aug. 7 and Wednesday, Aug. 8 at the Raiders’ training camp home in Napa, Calif.
• In Preseason Week 2, the Lions will host the Giants Tuesday, Aug. 14 through Thursday, Aug. 16 for joint practices at Detroit’s headquarters and training facility in Allen Park.

For the past two years, the Lions have traveled to both Pittsburgh and Indianapolis for joint practices. While they will again be on the road in Oakland to face the Raiders in Week 1 of the preseason, they will finally be hosting a joint team practice against the Giants in Allen Park.

Typically the Lions have made a handful of training camp practices open to the general public, but there is no word yet on if the team will allow fans to attend those three joint practices with the Giants.

Earlier in the offseason, Lions head coach Matt Patricia expressed his desire to continue these joint practices.

“I think any of those situations that are advantageous to help you evaluate your team, especially in training camp, or be able to maybe change the scenery of training camp is always a good idea, if it works out,” Patricia said during the March owners meetings.

After opening up the preseason with the Raiders and Giants, the Lions will finish the exhibition round with contests against the Buccaneers and Browns.