Mar 31, 2026, 6:34 PM CUT

Dan Campbell and Co. Set To Break 4-Year Old Streak Before 2026 NFL Season: Reports

NFL, American Football Herren, USA Scouting Combine Feb 25, 2025 Indianapolis, IN, USA Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Indianapolis Scouting Combine Indiana United States, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKirbyxLeex 20250225_jhp_al2_0352

Dan Campbell is changing his preseason strategy. The Detroit Lions will break a four-year streak by canceling all joint practices for the 2026 season. Campbell announced the move at the Annual League Meeting, calling the old method 'counterproductive.'

According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, while interacting with the press during the 2026 Annual League Meeting, head coach Dan Campbell shared the news that the Detroit Lions won’t be doing any joint practice sessions ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

“We got into that third year, whatever that was, or ’24, I don’t know, it just felt counterproductive, man,” Dan Campbell said. “ It didn’t feel like we were getting what I thought we would get out of it, and part of me was like I think we would have gotten more – we’d have gotten extra practice, and we’d have gotten more done had we just gone against ourselves."

For the first time since 2021, the Lions won't be taking part in any joint sessions. The Lions' management made the decision, believing the practices caused more harm than good.

In 2025, the Lions did one session with the Miami Dolphins and the Houston Texans. For 2024, it was with the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2022, it was the Indianapolis Colts.

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 03: Oakland Raiders Defensive End Maxx Crosby 98 rushes across the line during the NFL, American Football Herren, USA game between the Detroit Lions and Oakland Raiders on November 3, 2019 at RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland, CA. Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire NFL: NOV 03 Lions at Raiders PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxDENxONLY Icon19110333

On the other hand, Dan Campbell signaled that this time the Lions could play more starter matches during the preseason games. By doing this, they won’t be missing the benefits of practice, but in their own way.

"Let’s just keep it about us, let’s go to work, set the schedule up and we can hit everything, we don’t have to get ready for the next opponent in a joint practice, we go right through it," he said.

For Campbell, it's more about his team than any other. He made this clear in his practice plans for 2026.

How Dan Campbell Plans to Use Preseason Games Differently for the Detroit Lions

With joint practices off the table, Dan Campbell explained how he is shifting the focus toward maximizing preseason game reps for the Detroit Lions.

Instead of controlled practice environments against other teams, Detroit plans to get more out of live game situations, especially for players higher on the depth chart.

This approach will also prevent unnecessary injuries during the practice itself.

Campbell made it clear that previous joint sessions didn’t deliver the expected value, which is why the approach is changing.

Rather than splitting reps between practice and games, the Lions now aim to use preseason matchups as their primary evaluation tool, giving starters and key contributors more meaningful snaps.

This approach allows the Lions to evaluate their own player rotations in game-like situations.

Do you think this move was right or wrong for the Lions? Share your thoughts below.

Written by

Kunwar Yashaswee Chhaunker

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote