The seventh month of the year is important—and not just because we celebrate
Late July begins the start of training camps.
Independance Day here in the U.S.
July means the start of training camps. That means the preseason is just around the corner, and the regular season is a month behind that one.
The Dallas Cowboys are the first team to open training camp when rookies report on July 17. Veterans for the Cowboys report on July 22, with the first day of practice on July 24.
Dallas isn’t the first team to hit the practice field as a team. That honor goes to the Arizona Cardinals, who will have rookies and veterans report on July 21 and the first practice on July 22.
The next two teams to open camps will be the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans. Both teams could be Super Bowl contenders in 2017 if they get their quarterbacks to play at a higher level.
One of the busiest days across the league is July 27. On that date, 13 NFL teams start practice, including defending champion New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, who will have to keep answering questions over their blown Super Bowl lead.
Six teams will begin practice on July 28, with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs being the main title contenders. The Cincinnati Bengals open camp for what could be a make-or-break year for head coach Marvin Lewis.
Just four teams start practice on July 29, with the Oakland Raiders being the only Super Bowl contender to open camp. The Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets and Tennessee Titans are all in the beginning or middle of rebuilding.
The final four teams that begin practice hit the field on July 30. All four, the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks, could end up in the playoffs.
Rookies for the New Orleans Saints report on July 19, and veterans reporting on July 26. At this moment no date has been set for the beginning of practice.
Most teams begin practice a day or two after veterans report. That would put the Saints’ first practice on July 27 or July 28, but the team will be on the field by July 30 at the latest.
The first preseason game is on Aug. 3 between the Cardinals and Cowboys. Both teams are in the first Thursday Hall of Fame Game, which will kickoff the induction weekend.
Teams will play the first full week of preseason games from Aug. 9 to Aug. 13. Strangely, Carolina and Houston will play in a rare Wednesday preseason game to accommodate the PGA Championship that begins the next day.
Here is the full list of teams’ opening camp dates with rookie- and veteran-reporting dates. The list is divided by on-the-field dates.
July 22
Arizona Cardinals: rookies: July 21; veterans, July 21
July 24
Dallas Cowboys: rookies, July 17; veterans, July 22
July 26
Carolina Panthers: rookies,July 25; veterans, July 25
Houston Texans: rookies, July 25; veterans, July 25
July 27
Atlanta Falcons: rookies, July 26; veterans, July 26
Baltimore Ravens: rookies, July 19; veterans, July 26
Buffalo Bills: rookies, July 26; veterans, July 26
Cleveland Browns: rookies, July 25; veterans July 27
Denver Broncos: rookies, July 23; veterans, July 26
Green Bay Packers: rookies, July 26; veterans, July 26
Jacksonville Jaguars: rookies, July 19; veterans, July 26
Miami Dolphins: rookies, July 20; veterans, July 26
Minnesota Vikings: rookies, July 20; veterans, July 26
New England Patriots: rookies, July 24; veterans, July 26
Philadelphia Eagles: rookies, July 24; veterans, July 26
Washington Redskins: rookies, July 26; veterans, July 26
July 28
Chicago Bears: rookies, July 26; veterans, July 26
Cincinnati Bengals: rookies, July 25; veterans, July 27
Kansas City Chiefs: rookies, July 24; veterans, July 27
New York Giants: rookies. July 27; veterans, July 27
Pittsburgh Steelers: rookies, July 27; veterans, July 27
San Francisco 49ers: rookies, July 26; veterans, July 27
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: rookies, July 25; veterans, July 27
July 29
Los Angeles Rams: rookies, July 26; veterans, July 28
New York Jets: rookies, July 28; veterans, July 28
Oakland Raiders: rookies, July 24; veterans, July 28
Tennessee Titans: rookies, July 28; veterans, July 28
July 30
Detroit Lions: rookies, July 24; veterans, July 29
Indianapolis Colts: rookies, July 24; veterans, July 29
Los Angeles Chargers: rookies, July 29; veterans, July 29
Seattle Seahawks: rookies, July 29; veterans, July 29
TBA
New Orleans Saints: rookies, July 19; veterans, July 26
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