Dan Campbell spent 12 games as interim head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2015, a start he said helped prepare him for his current gig with the Detroit Lions.
This summer, Campbell will host his old team for a set of joint practices in training camp.
Advertisement
The Dolphins announced they will hold joint practices with all three of their preseason opponents, the Lions, Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars.
More: Detroit Lions open OTAs this week: Aidan Hutchinson on the field among storylines to watch
Campbell said in March he anticipates having two sets of joint workouts this summer. The Lions also could host the Houston Texans for joint practices.
The Lions open the preseason against the Los Angeles Chargers in the Hall of Fame game July 31. They visit the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 of the preseason Aug. 8, then close exhibition play with Saturday games against the Dolphins and Texans on Aug. 16 and 23, respectively.
Advertisement
Campbell has long been a proponent of joint practices and has used the workouts as a way to get his starters preseason reps in a controlled environment. The Lions held joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023, and the Giants last year.
Detroit Lions safety JuJu Hughes tackles Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff has not played in a preseason game since August of 2022, when he attempted four passes in the exhibition opener against the Falcons; the Lions held joint practices in Week 2 of the preseason that year.
The Dolphins are coming off an 8-9 season and are borderline playoff contenders in the AFC. They return Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback, Tyreek Hill at receiver and had the league’s fourth-best scoring defense last year.
Advertisement
The Texans are two-time defending AFC South champs. The Lions beat the Texans in Houston last fall, 26-23, on a 52-yard Jake Bates field goal as time expired. Goff threw five interceptions in the win.
Dave Birkett is the author of the book, “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline.” Order your copy here. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions to host Dolphins in first of likely 2 sets of joint practices