The Los Angeles Rams aren’t expected to play many of their starters, if any, during the preseason this year after taking that very same approach in 2018. Part of the reason Sean McVay feels good about resting his starters is the availability of joint practices.
The Rams are in line to practice with the Raiders in Napa Valley this year and according to Jon Gruden, they’re close to finalizing it. He talked to McVay at 4 a.m. about locking down joint practices before their Aug. 10 preseason game.
“Yeah, I talked to McVay I think it was 4 o’clock in the morning. Sean and I talk a lot at about 4 a.m.” Gruden said Tuesday. “We are considering working against the Rams prior to the first preseason game. Nothing is 100 percent finalized yet, but if possible, that certainly, I think, might benefit the both of us. We’re in the final stages trying to work something out.”
McVay comes from Gruden’s coaching tree, so they have a built-in connection with each other. That’s evidenced by their chats at 4 o’clock in the morning, which is probably when McVay is waking up for work.
The two teams squared off twice last year, once in the preseason and again in Week 1 of the regular season. Both being on the West Coast, it makes sense for them to practice together before they meet once again in the preseason.
