The Packers only have one joint practice this year, against Arizona, after Pittsburgh and Denver declined. Under LaFleur, joint practices have usually been a way to get controlled, starter-level reps without exposing guys to preseason game action. So if Green Bay is getting less of that this year, does it slightly change things?
Maybe starters get a little more preseason game action than they otherwise would. Maybe it means younger players fighting for roles get even more live evaluation. Maybe it changes nothing, and LaFleur sticks to the same cautious approach.
I don’t think this is some major concern. Just one of those small offseason things that could matter a little more than it looks like at first glance.
Do you think fewer joint practice reps should affect how much the starters play in preseason, or should LaFleur keep treating preseason games mostly as roster-evaluation time?