TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield got in the middle of a scuffle, and injured All-Pro offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs went onto the field on a crutch to join his teammates.
Welcome to joint practices.
Players get an opportunity to hit opposing teams in the NFL preseason — a rarity outside of exhibition games — which sometimes can lead to fighting. This was a minor tussle between the Bucs and the Tennessee Titans on Thursday.
“Everybody’s in the skirmish,” Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said. “Nobody wants to throw a punch. It’s not necessary. We’re not trying to do that right there. They’re not trying to do it as well. If it’s hot and you’ve got pads on, it’s going to happen.”
First-year New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, a former All-Pro linebacker and two-time NFL coach of the year with the Titans, jumped into a pile of players and came out with a bloodied cheek during Wednesday’s practice with the Washington Commanders.