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Evaluating NFL Preseason Joint Practices and Final Games

Learn how to evaluate NFL preseason joint practices and final games for player performance and roster decisions.

Evaluating NFL Preseason Joint Practices and Final Games

Start by checking whether the practice actually happened

The first problem with late-August preseason coverage is that the schedule can become the story, rather than the actual work. Teams plan joint practices weeks ahead, but weather, field conditions, injuries and coaching decisions can change the plan.

That matters in Washington. The Commanders’ official 2026 schedule listed joint work with the Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens, not with the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona’s corresponding outside competition was scheduled with Green Bay. [2][7]

The Commanders-Ravens practice, however, was canceled, according to The Washington Post. [1] That makes a difference when reading or watching team-produced preseason material that was prepared around a Baltimore trip.

Washington’s Command Center program on the Commanders’ channel framed the Ravens week around offensive-line questions, receiver depth and backup-quarterback competition. Those are legitimate roster questions, but they should not be converted into claimed joint-practice performance without independent confirmation.

There was no Cardinals-Commanders joint practice in the 2026 preseason. Readers should discard any narrative built around Arizona supposedly matching up with Washington, including claims about practice attendance, television ratings or head-to-head results. [2][7]

The NFL does not ordinarily publish comprehensive attendance or ratings data for joint practices anyway. Its published 2026 schedule shows how widespread the format was, with 28 teams participating, but it does not turn closed or limited-access practice periods into statistically verified events. [6]

Before watching highlights, identify the drill and the personnel

A red-zone period is not a full game drive. A one-on-one pass-rush period is not an offense’s protection plan. A seven-on-seven completion says little about whether a quarterback can operate when the center, guards and tackles must sort pressure.

That distinction came through in Washington’s own analysis. Former Commanders tight end Logan Paulsen said the offensive line develops more slowly in camp because padded work is limited, the inverse of how receivers can pile up visible production in seven-on-seven sessions.

So, when the clip shows a receiver winning a route, ask whether it came against man coverage, zone-match leverage or an isolated drill. When it shows a quarterback escaping pressure, ask whether defenders were permitted to finish the rush.

The same standard applies to pass rushers. Washington’s Command Center spotlighted rookie edge players Javontae Jean-Baptiste and Joshua Joseph, but the available reporting is qualitative, not a ledger of sacks or pressures from joint practices.

Joshua Joseph, a fifth-round Tennessee product, has been described as developing behind veterans Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson. Javontae Jean-Baptiste, an undrafted Ohio State product, has earned increased camp opportunities. Those are useful roster signals, not proof either won a job. [2]

A final preseason preview should therefore begin with expected usage. If the starters sit, the game is not an indicator of Week 1 readiness. It is a live audition for players competing for the final active-roster slots and practice-squad consideration.

Read Washington’s roster battles through snaps, not preseason narratives

Washington’s receiver room is a useful example of how a preseason narrative can turn stale. The early concern was whether the club had enough behind its top option, but the Commanders’ team coverage described a much different late-camp issue: whom the club could afford to release.

The addition of Stefon Diggs changed the top of the room, while Terry McLaurin remained the established lead target. Washington’s in-house coverage also identified Jaylin Lane’s return role and Luke McCaffrey’s special-teams value as practical roster advantages.

That is the proper way to assess a fifth or sixth receiver. A preseason catch matters, but a player dressing for all four core special-teams units, handling returns or functioning as a willing perimeter blocker can decide the final spot.

Arizona’s Cardinals Birdwatch made the same point in its receiver preview. Behind Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson and Kendrick Bourne, the club’s competition included Simi Fehoko, rookie Reggie Virgil, Jalen Brooks and Devin Duvernay.

Former Cardinals lineman A.Q. Shipley, speaking on the Arizona Cardinals channel, correctly emphasized that wideouts in Mike LaFleur’s offense have to block. The Rams-derived system asks receivers to create edges in the run game, then uses similar formations and motions to disguise run-pass intent.

That is why a catch total alone can mislead. A receiver who catches three passes against third-string coverage but misses a crack-replace assignment or cannot cover kicks may be behind a player with quieter box-score production and a broader game-day role.

For Washington’s offensive line, watch the combinations rather than a single sack allowed. The Commanders’ own preview highlighted uncertainty around center and left guard, while noting that the group needed time to “galvanize” after limited full-contact work.

The question is whether the five players recognize the same defensive picture. A free rusher can be a tackle losing physically, but it can also be a center and guard setting protection differently against a simulated pressure.

Use Arizona’s Green Bay work as a model for evaluating a joint practice

The Cardinals’ reported joint work with the Packers had the normal uneven opening. Arizona Cardinals reporters Darren Urban and Dani Sureck said early offensive periods included batted passes, drops and Packers pressure before the Cardinals settled into better rhythm.

That is more useful than declaring either side a winner after the first period. Joint practices are commonly scripted early, and coaches often use those first sequences to install calls, test matchups and see whether players can handle unfamiliar fronts.

Arizona’s stronger work reportedly came in two-minute and red-zone periods. A toe-tap touchdown by Marvin Harrison Jr. on a fade route was a highlight, but the better evaluation question is whether the offense protected the ball and created separation across multiple situations.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett explained on Cardinals Birdwatch that LaFleur’s offense uses formations and motions to make run and pass plays look similar. That means the value of the joint-practice work was not merely whether Arizona completed passes.

The film question is whether defenders hesitated because the offense presented the same initial picture. If linebackers stepped toward a run fake, or safeties rotated late because motion forced communication, that is evidence the structure is doing its job.

Arizona’s defense produced reported interceptions in its two-minute work, including plays credited by Cardinals Underground to Elijah Jones, Zaven Collins, Kitan Crawford and Dadrion “Rabbit” Taylor-Demerson. Still, interceptions in practice need context before they become a season forecast.

A turnover can result from a quarterback testing a tight window, a receiver and quarterback seeing coverage differently, or a defender successfully disguising the post-snap picture. The latter is the more repeatable takeaway, especially against an unfamiliar offense.

The same caution applies to physicality. Cardinals reporters described several scuffles and heightened emotion in Green Bay, but no confirmed punches. Emotion can signal competitive edge, yet a taunting penalty or a lost assignment is not the identity a defense wants in September.

Let the final preseason game reveal each player’s job

The final preseason game is usually less about the starting quarterback and more about the bottom third of the roster. Arizona’s Cardinals Birdwatch noted that starters sitting out is often a clear indication of their standing.

That leaves the final game as an unusually concentrated personnel exercise. A player can be auditioning for the 53-man roster, the practice squad, a waiver claim or another club’s emergency depth chart.

Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Todd Monken offered a clear explanation after his team’s final preseason game against New England. He said quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders received walkthrough work but did not get regular practice reps that week.

That context matters when grading their game operation. A backup quarterback may show command of a limited call sheet after few competitive reps, which can be more meaningful to a staff than forcing a difficult throw on third-and-long.

Monken also described what teams are actually weighing at cutdown: whether a player has made the decision difficult, whether he can be developed and whether his tape can help him find an opportunity elsewhere. That is closer to the reality than “he scored, so he made it.”

For quarterbacks, count the operational snaps. Did the player get the offense aligned, use the cadence properly, handle a protection check and get to the right answer against a disguised safety rotation? Those plays travel better than a broken-play scramble.

For running backs, do not rely solely on preseason rushing average. Raiders defensive players noted in the Raiders’ postgame availability that backs are difficult to fully evaluate in practice because defenders are not tackling, which makes live-game pass protection and finish through contact important.

For defensive backs, chart communication and special teams. Arizona safety Dadrion “Rabbit” Taylor-Demerson’s ability to get around the ball drew attention in Raiders coverage of rookie development, but a young safety’s roster value also depends on coverage assignments and kick-game reliability.

Know the cutdown calendar before projecting the roster

The timing is not cosmetic. Teams must reach 53 players by 6 p.m. ET on Aug. 30, 2026. [3][4] A player released before then may not be gone from the organization’s plans, but the path back depends on his accrued-season status and waiver process.

Players with fewer than four accrued seasons are subject to waivers, and claims close at 1 p.m. ET on Aug. 31. Veterans with four or more accrued seasons become free agents immediately when released. [3][5]

Practice squads must be set by 6 p.m. ET on Aug. 31, with up to 16 spots available, or 17 if a team carries an International Player Pathway participant. [3][4] That is why teams may release a promising player and still hope to retain him.

Injury decisions also carry a deadline consequence. A player placed on Injured Reserve before the final cutdown cannot return that season, while a player moved to IR after the 53-man deadline can be eligible to return. [3][5]

Do not overstate injury risk from a joint practice or final preseason game. There are no comprehensive 2026 injury figures or published recovery protocols that establish one setting as demonstrably safer than the other. [6]

The practical viewing rule is simple: watch who plays, where he plays and whether his role expands when the game turns to third down, special teams and late-game operation. The highlight gets attention, but the snap distribution usually explains the roster decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should NFL joint practices be evaluated for player performance?

Joint-practice clips should be treated as situational evidence rather than definitive results. The most informative snaps come from specific scenarios like third down, red zone, two-minute drills, and one-on-one matchups against unfamiliar opponents. It is important to confirm that the practice actually occurred and to consider the context of each drill before drawing conclusions.

What drills in joint practices best indicate NFL roster potential?

Drills such as red-zone periods, two-minute drills, and one-on-one pass-rush or coverage matchups provide more insight into execution, communication, and individual skill than early scripted or seven-on-seven drills. These situations better simulate game conditions where players’ abilities to perform under pressure and against varied competition can be assessed.

Why are final preseason games important for NFL roster decisions?

Final preseason games primarily serve as roster-evaluation opportunities where coaches assess players’ special-teams roles, versatility in alignment, and snap volume. These factors often provide more meaningful information about a player’s potential roster spot than highlight plays like touchdowns or splash plays.

How do joint practices differ from preseason games in assessing players?

Joint practices focus on controlled, situational drills rather than full-game scenarios, often limiting physical contact and the ability to finish plays. Preseason games provide live, competitive environments where snap counts and special-teams contributions can be measured, offering a more comprehensive view of a player’s readiness and role.

What factors affect the reliability of joint practice highlights?

Reliability depends on verifying that the joint practice actually took place, understanding the specific drill and personnel involved, and recognizing that many highlights come from isolated or scripted situations. Additionally, team-produced highlight packages may not reflect independent or comprehensive evaluations, so contextual knowledge is necessary to interpret them accurately.

How we researched this

This article was assembled from 5 video sources across 4 channels, 5 published articles, 7 cited references.

Nothing here is based on hands-on testing. Where a figure or finding appears, it belongs to the source cited beside it, and the writing says so rather than implying otherwise. Every source is listed below so you can check it.

Sources

Watch Preseason Game Previews and Highlights: Joint Practices and Final Games on Youtube

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Topics

Game Analysis