Cardinals Coach Seeks Joint Practices with Packers to Avoid August Heat

Mike LaFleur confirms plans, awaiting NFL approval for preseason matchup in Green Bay

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:53pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting the action and energy of a football practice or game, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in vibrant colors representing the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers.The strategic partnership between the Cardinals and Packers aims to sharpen both teams' skills through competitive joint practices, captured in a dynamic cubist composition.Seattle Today

The Arizona Cardinals are planning to hold joint preseason practices with the Green Bay Packers, according to head coach Mike LaFleur. The move is intended to help the Cardinals avoid the intense August heat in Arizona, as they will be able to train on grass fields in Wisconsin. LaFleur is a big proponent of joint practices, citing the benefits of facing different players and schemes to break up the monotony of training camp.

Why it matters

Joint practices provide valuable opportunities for teams to evaluate their players against outside competition in a controlled environment. This is especially important for the Cardinals, who play three of their four preseason games on the road this year, including the Hall of Fame game. Avoiding the Arizona heat is also a key factor, as the team wants to keep its players fresh and healthy heading into the regular season.

The details

The Cardinals are waiting for final approval from the NFL to hold the joint practices with the Packers in Green Bay. Part of the plan includes the Cardinals having a road preseason game in Green Bay. LaFleur noted that if they couldn't go to Green Bay, he would have preferred to take the team to Canada, but without a Canadian team available, Wisconsin was the next best option.

  • The joint practices are planned to take place after the Cardinals return from their initial training camp setup in Arizona.
  • The Cardinals will play three of their four preseason games, including the Hall of Fame game, away from home this year.

The players

Mike LaFleur

The head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, who is planning the joint practices with the Green Bay Packers.

Jonathan Gannon

The new defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, which will create some defensive scheme similarities between the two teams.

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What they’re saying

“The whole point, I love our training camp setup. We are away from the heat (in State Farm Stadium). We are on the grass. But at some point we have to go back to Tempe and get going there. To do the joint after we get back and get out of that heat, I told some of the guys, if we could go to Canada, we would. They just don't have a team.”

— Mike LaFleur, Head Coach, Arizona Cardinals

“Inevitably, we know what is going to happen after you keep hitting your own brother after awhile. We are going to hug each other after, but when you're going you're going. It should be competitive.”

— Mike LaFleur, Head Coach, Arizona Cardinals

What’s next

The NFL still needs to give final approval for the joint practices between the Cardinals and Packers to take place in Green Bay.

The takeaway

The Cardinals' plan to hold joint practices with the Packers in Green Bay highlights the importance of finding ways to break up the monotony of training camp and avoid the intense August heat in Arizona. Joint practices provide valuable opportunities for teams to evaluate their players against outside competition in a controlled environment.