The Indianapolis Colts will look to start the 2026 campaign on a high note following a disappointing end to the year in 2025.
The Colts are set to face the New England Patriots in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL preseason, followed by a matchup with the Atlanta Falcons during Week 2.
Head coach Shane Steichen announced on Wednesday that the team will partake in a joint practice with both the Patriots and Falcons prior to their preseason matchups.
The Colts will practice with the Falcons twice, while practicing with the Patriots just once.
Each practice will serve as an excellent opportunity for the Colts’ starters on both sides of the football to get valuable reps. One of the primary benefits of joint practices and why they are now a common practice for most NFL teams is that they provide key players with game-like reps in a controlled environment.
This can then reduce the need for these players to play in the preseason.
Indy’s joint practice with the Patriots will take place in New England, while the Colts’ two practices with the Falcons will take place in Indianapolis. In Week 3 of the preseason, the Colts are at Detroit, but no joint practice has been announced.
While not the only factor, these highly competitive practices can go a long way in determining positional battles that are taking place.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts’ HC Shane Steichen announces multiple joint-practices in August
Reporting by Jake Boico, Colts Wire / Colts Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
