The NFL and players union agreed not to hold joint practices in 2020. The Falcons were in discussions to hold joint practices with the Dolphins and the Bills before the league closed its facilities in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic in March.
All training camps will be held at the club facilities unless that is not feasible, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell informed all teams Tuesday.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn was open to looking at joint practices after the team's slow starts the past two seasons. The Falcons started last season 1-7 and were 1-4 in 2018.
The NFL’s contact rules, instituted in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement, call for no live tackling in practice, which makes it difficult to get ready for the season. The Falcons have looked for a way to maximize the live contact.
In the past, the Falcons have used joint practices to help them evaluate their offensive and defensive lines against NFL competition. The team regularly held joint practices under former coach Mike Smith. The Falcons have held joint practices with the Patriots, Bengals, Titans and Jaguars in the past.
With a rebuilding of the offensive line last season, the Falcons discussed holding joint practices with another team, but elected not to do so.
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