Rams' Sean McVay Evaluates Joint Practices vs. Preseason Games

Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay debates if joint practices are better than preseason games.

The scary head injury that New England Patriots safety Isaiah Bolden suffered on Saturday against the Green Bay Packers has recently sparked the question "are preseason games better/worse than joint practices?"

Joint practices have a much lower risk of injuries, but numerous fights between teams have broken out over the past couple of weeks. The Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints even mutually agreed to cancel their joint practices this week, sensing that it "wouldn't be productive."

Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay weighed in on the live debate, deciding which preseason format (games or joint practices) is better.

“The best part about the joint practices is you get an opportunity to go against a different team, different schemes, different nuances relative to scheme, personnel, techniques, fundamentals at the line of scrimmage, coverage contours and concept...in more controlled settings," McVay said during Sunday's press conference.

McVay explained that injuries can still obviously occur, but questioned whether or not starters taking snaps during the preseason would be beneficial.

"(There are) important parts of when you get tackled and things like that, but it's always weighing the risk-reward of...each of the three preseason games," McVay said. "(When) they're getting 10 to 15 snaps, do those 30 to 45 (overall) snaps...equal what you think is best to go into Week 1 healthy at your optimum ability?"

Nevertheless, McVay admitted that the slight chance of injuries to starters in preseason games is too risky for him.

"Long story short, I've always felt like the practices are more valuable than the games," McVay said.

The Rams will travel to Denver for a pair of joint practices with the Broncos on Wednesday and Thursday ahead of their preseason matchup on Saturday.

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