During OTAs this week Jets head coach Aaron Glenn announced that the team will conduct joint practices with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of the teams’ preseason game in August.

Joint practices with the opponent before a preseason game are becoming more and more common. Teams have become very reluctant to put prominent players on the field at all during the preseason.

Joint practices allow for starters to get reps against another team in an environment that is more controlled than an exhibition game (quarterbacks wear red jerseys and can’t be hit, etc.).

They also allow the coaches a chance to evaluate players in position and roster battles against different competition. The wide receiver who has been picking on the shaky corner all training camp has to prove it against somebody else.

The players also tend to enjoy these practices. They get to compete against somebody other than their own teammates.