Buccaneers to Hold Joint Practices With Two Teams During Preseason

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have gotten good use out of joint practices in the past, and now, they’re set to have two more of them in 2025.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles revealed on the Pewter Report podcast that the team will hold two joint practices in 2025: one with the Tennessee Titans in Tampa and another with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh.

Via Pewter Report,

“#Bucs head coach Todd Bowles broke some news on the @PewterReport Podcast – the Buccaneers are finalizing joint practices with both the Titans and the Steelers during training camp.

Tampa Bay hosts Tennessee on Aug. 9 and travels to Pittsburgh on Aug. 16 in the preseason.”

The Buccaneers will host the revamped Tennessee Titans for a joint practice, giving them a chance to evaluate the Titans’ highly touted rookie quarterback Cam Ward, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The two teams will also face off in a preseason game on August 9.

The Buccaneers will then travel to Pittsburgh for a preseason game against the Steelers on August 16, a team with historical ties to Tampa Bay, as Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was part of the Buccaneers’ defensive staff during their 2002 Super Bowl-winning season.

NFL teams hold joint practices for increased competition. Scrimmaging against other teams helps players experience different styles and intensities. Coaches can assess player performance in game-like situations. Joint practices can simulate preseason game environments, helping teams fine-tune strategies. These practices also allow teams to work on specific aspects of their game without the pressure of an actual game.