The New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams are set to engage in a high-stakes joint practice on Thursday, highlighting the competitive spirit of NFL preseason preparations.

Why it matters: This practice provides an invaluable opportunity for both teams to evaluate their first-team units against a different defensive scheme, particularly as they gear up for the upcoming regular season.

• Joint practices like this serve as a critical testing ground for players, enabling them to face unfamiliar techniques and strategies.
• Juwan Johnson, the Saints' tight end, emphasized the significance of competing against different players: "I think going against guys you haven't seen... that's big."

What’s new: The Saints will hold the practice at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, starting at 11 a.m. PT.

• This session comes after the Saints have been practicing at UC Irvine since August 7 and recently played a preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
• The Rams had originally planned a joint practice with the Chargers that was canceled due to injuries.

What to watch: Both teams plan to focus on their first-team units during the practice, which could reveal how each team intends to approach their offensive and defensive strategies this season.

• Coach Kellen Moore of the Saints noted the emphasis on competition, stating, "It'll be a heavy 1's-oriented practice," allowing key players to showcase their abilities against high-quality opposition.
• The Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula acknowledged the balancing act required in joint practices, saying, "We typically don't do this against teams that we play against... So how much do you want to show?"

Yes, but: Concerns about revealing too much strategy may temper the intensity of the practice.

• Both Moore and Shula expressed awareness of the potential pitfalls of showcasing their playbooks, with Moore admitting, "We're probably going to have a good feel for what both of us are doing at that point."
• Although revealing strategies is a concern, the benefits of player evaluation and cohesion cannot be understated.

The bottom line: As NFL teams increasingly turn to joint practices for competitive preparation, this session between the Saints and Rams offers a snapshot of how collaboration can enhance performance leading into the regular season.

• The results from these practices often have a lasting impact, influencing final roster decisions and game strategies.
• With a strong showing on both sides, expect both teams to use this experience to sharpen their skills ahead of their upcoming matchups.

The New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams are set to engage in a high-stakes joint practice on Thursday, highlighting the competitive spirit of NFL preseason preparations.

Why it matters: This practice provides an invaluable opportunity for both teams to evaluate their first-team units against a different defensive scheme, particularly as they gear up for the upcoming regular season.

• Joint practices like this serve as a critical testing ground for players, enabling them to face unfamiliar techniques and strategies.
• Juwan Johnson, the Saints' tight end, emphasized the significance of competing against different players: "I think going against guys you haven't seen... that's big."

What’s new: The Saints will hold the practice at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, starting at 11 a.m. PT.

• This session comes after the Saints have been practicing at UC Irvine since August 7 and recently played a preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
• The Rams had originally planned a joint practice with the Chargers that was canceled due to injuries.

What to watch: Both teams plan to focus on their first-team units during the practice, which could reveal how each team intends to approach their offensive and defensive strategies this season.

• Coach Kellen Moore of the Saints noted the emphasis on competition, stating, "It'll be a heavy 1's-oriented practice," allowing key players to showcase their abilities against high-quality opposition.
• The Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula acknowledged the balancing act required in joint practices, saying, "We typically don't do this against teams that we play against... So how much do you want to show?"

Yes, but: Concerns about revealing too much strategy may temper the intensity of the practice.

• Both Moore and Shula expressed awareness of the potential pitfalls of showcasing their playbooks, with Moore admitting, "We're probably going to have a good feel for what both of us are doing at that point."
• Although revealing strategies is a concern, the benefits of player evaluation and cohesion cannot be understated.

The bottom line: As NFL teams increasingly turn to joint practices for competitive preparation, this session between the Saints and Rams offers a snapshot of how collaboration can enhance performance leading into the regular season.

• The results from these practices often have a lasting impact, influencing final roster decisions and game strategies.
• With a strong showing on both sides, expect both teams to use this experience to sharpen their skills ahead of their upcoming matchups.