New NFL kickoff rules for the 2024 season, and the need for live work in training camp to learn the new rules were key reasons that the Pittsburgh Steelers scheduled a joint practice with the Buffalo Bills in mid-August.
At least, that’s the stance Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin took Wednesday in his press conference with the media after reporting to training camp.
The Steelers announced the joint practice on August 15 against the Bills, marking the first time since 2016 that the Steelers will have participated in a joint practice in the preseason.
“Particularly with the new kickoff, I’m just interested in getting some work against other people,” Tomlin said of why the joint practice was scheduled, according to video via the Steelers’ YouTube page.