The Los Angeles Rams have been getting well-acquainted in their joint practices with the Oakland Raiders ahead of their showdown in the 2019 NFL Preseason opener on Saturday.
There is certainly no shortage of star power on both teams, which provided for some intriguing matchups across the board. As a result, things were expected to get a bit competitive as the week went on as opponents started to grow weary of each other.
Training camp scuffles are hardly an unusual occurrence, especially around this time of year with the regular season rapidly approaching. Unfortunately, it appears both of the sides may have gotten a bit more familiar with each other than initially planned.
Things ultimately started to boil over after a fight had to be broken up during practice, and ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry caught it on video:
Punches thrown between the Raiders offense and Rams defense at combined practice. Sean McVay sprints over from the field where offense is playing to check out situation. A minute later, play resumes. pic.twitter.com/CCCi90D0Ee
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) August 8, 2019
Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal was able to clarify some of the players that were involved:
Punches thrown in joint practice. Raiders rookie OT Tyler Roemer absorbed one while helmet off. Rams LB Josh Carraway among those involved. https://t.co/oz8KsVC2tk
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 8, 2019
With players like Aaron Donald and Gabe Jackson going at it, it is easy to see why the entire team on both sides had to get involved to help break things up. Once players of their caliber start getting riled up, it sets the tone for the rest of the team on both sides which makes it even more difficult to tone things down.
After the conclusion of the practice, Donald joked that he didn’t have a problem with the dust-up:
Aaron Donald on today’s practice against the Raiders, which included a few extracurriculars: “A little pushin’ and shovin’ never hurt nobody.”
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) August 8, 2019
Regardless, it is encouraging to see that there is no shortage of intensity going on in the joint practices in Napa. More importantly, no one appeared to be hurt in the scuffle.
Both teams may want to do what they can to tone things down ahead of their matchup on Saturday. After all, the biggest goal in the preseason is to make through as healthy as possible for the regular season and the last thing either team needs is to suffer any setbacks due to a loss of temper.
It is no secret that the Rams plan on taking a rather cautious approach to the preseason by sitting the majority of his starters. Interestingly enough, head coach Sean McVay has seemingly set the precedent with a number of teams reportedly planning to do the same moving forward.
Fortunately, the team appears to be at the point where the risks involved with playing in these meaningless games far outweigh any potential experience they may get. The expectations in Los Angeles remain as high as ever and they will need to be at full strength if they hope to make it back to the Super Bowl.
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