Texans, Broncos to hold joint practices in August

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) Jadeveon Clowney and J.J. Watt get to chase Peyton Manning around for a few days at practice this August, not that fans will get to watch in person.

The Denver Broncos and Houston Texans will conduct three joint training camp practices in Colorado leading up to their Aug. 23 preseason game at Sports Authority Field. They will practice together Aug. 19-21 at the Dove Valley training headquarters.

Because of a $35 million construction project of an indoor practice facility, the Broncos aren't allowing fans to view their workouts this summer for safety reasons. They can watch three practices at their stadium, all of which will take place before the Texans' visit.

It's the first time the Broncos will have hosted another team at the Dove Valley facility since practicing with the Dallas Cowboys in the 2008 preseason. The Texans and Broncos last held joint practices in 2003 and 2005 in Houston.

''It's always good to do that when you can, to practice with another team, especially after a couple of weeks of camp. You're seeing the same things from your offense and they're seeing the same things from us. So, it can be a good change-up,'' Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said.

''And it can be very beneficial as long as both teams come to work with the idea that you're going to practice and not spend the day being chippy.''

The Texans are coming off a miserable 2-14 season. But it allowed them the top overall draft pick, which they used to select Clowney, the star defensive end from South Carolina who is converting to outside linebacker as Houston adopts a 3-4 alignment for 2014.

Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase put a positive spin on seeing so much of Clowney and Watt, the 2012 Defensive Player of the Year, this summer.

Noting that AFC West rival Kansas City also operates a 3-4 defense, ''it'll be good experience for us and going against those players, that pass rush especially,'' Gase said. ''That will get us ready to go into the season.''

---

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

---

Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton