INDIANAPOLIS —The Indianapolis Colts today confirmed that they will be hosting the Cleveland Browns for multiple joint training camp practices at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Ind., prior to the two teams' Game 2 preseason matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The dates and times of those practices — and the preseason game in Indy — will be released at a later date. Colts owner Jim Irsay said last month that, like all Colts' training camp practices, the joint sessions with the Browns will be free and open to the public.
On March 25, the two teams confirmed that there were, indeed, plans for joint practices in Westfield, but they were waiting until the release of the NFL's 2019 preseason schedule before they could confirm. The Colts today announced their four-game preseason opponents: at the Buffalo Bills, vs. the Browns, vs. the Chicago Bears and at the Cincinnati Bengals.
Fans in attendance at Grand Park will be treated to two of the more exciting, young rosters entering the 2019 season when the Browns come to town.
The Colts, of course, won nine of their final 10 regular season games to finish 10-6 and earn their first playoff berth in four seasons; they went on the road to defeat the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round before falling to the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round. Quarterback Andrew Luck earned NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors, while the team had two rookies — linebacker Darius Leonard and guard Quenton Nelson — named First-Team All-Pro; Leonard was also voted as the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The Browns, meanwhile, had a resurgent season in 2018. Led by rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield, the No. 1-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Cleveland finished 7-8-1 on the season — its best performance since 2007. The Browns have been the talk of the NFL this offseason after acquiring wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and pass rusher Olivier Vernon in a trade with the New York Giants, as well as signing defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson.
The planned second preseason game to follow the joint practices, meanwhile, should feature both teams' starting units battling it out for about two quarters of action.
The Colts last year had their first opportunity to work out the logistics of hosting a team for training camp practices in Westfield when the Ravens came to town for two days leading up to their Week 2 preseason matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Thousands of fans were on hand both days to watch on as the two teams battled through various drills and scrimmages. Two skirmishes broke out between the teams on the second day, though both were quickly resolved.
This will be the seventh time the Colts have participated in joint practices with another team; previous joint practices were with the Ravens (2018), Detroit Lions (2017), Chicago Bears (2015), Tennessee Titans (2000) and St. Louis Rams (1997, '99), according to Colts Communications.
