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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 19: Interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady looks on before the game against the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium on November 19, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns seem to be on the verge of reaching an agreement, but it doesn’t involve any player transactions.
Many teams are trying to finalize their preseason schedules around this time, as the NFL is set to announce the regular season and preseason schedules in mid-May. Teams are working on deals to collaborate for preseason games and join practices, and the Bills might have found a team they will practice against this summer.
Bills And Browns Look Like They Will Be Practicing Together This Summer
According to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, the Browns and Bills are finalizing an agreement to hold joint practices this summer.
“Josh Allen will have more chances to try to avoid Myles Garrett this summer when the Browns host the Bills for joint practices during training camp at Cross Country Mortgage Camp. Dates have yet to be finalized,” Cabot wrote on Sunday.
“It marks the first time the two teams will practice against each other in camp since the Browns traveled to St. John Fisher College near Rochester, N.Y. in 2015. Back then, Browns coach Mike Pettine scrimmaged against his former Jets boss, Rex Ryan.”
Many teams will host joint practices because the NFL reduced the preseason from four to three games in 2021. This change took the option away to play an extra game, which is also significant for the starters.
Since football is such a physical game, many teams don’t like playing their starters in the preseason, since it’s a good way for players to get injured.
However, joint practices enable teams to control the environment, allowing starters to participate while gaining valuable reps against other starters from other teams.
Typically, the teams will have one or two joint practices before they face off in a real preseason game. This means the Bills and Browns will likely face off in one of their three preseason games.
Could the Bills And Browns be Looking to Make Another Move
Many Bills fans probably didn’t expect that their agreement with the Browns this week would center on practice, following the surprising news Cleveland announced on Wednesday.
The Browns and star pass rusher Myles Garrett agreed on a contract modification that will make it easier for Cleveland to trade him.
“Garrett’s contract previously called for his option bonuses in 2026, 2027 and 2028 to be exercised by the 15th day of the league year,” ESPN’s Field Yates wrote. (March 25th is the 15th day of the 2026 league year.) “In the amended terms, that date has been pushed back to seven days before the regular season each year. The payment of the option bonuses was also modified in a way that has benefit to Garrett.”
There is a lot of speculation that the Browns might trade Garrett after the contract modification, and if they do, Buffalo would be an ideal fit.
The Bills need to strengthen their defense, and if they can bring in a great player like Garrett, Buffalo could be on the road to the Super Bowl within the next 10 months.
Danny Fisher Is a football journalist covering the Buffalo Bills for Heavy.com. He has covered the NFL for Gridiron Heroics, focusing on the AFC and Penn State football for Nittany Central. More about Danny Fisher
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