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Patriots will reportedly hold joint practices with NFC preseason opponent

Patriots will reportedly hold joint practices with NFC preseason opponent

USA Today20-05-2025
Patriots will reportedly hold joint practices with NFC preseason opponent
Patriots' plans for joint practices in Minnesota are now finalized. https://t.co/sU7qqCrt0M — Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) May 19, 2025
The New England Patriots will visit the Minnesota Vikings for joint practices ahead of their second preseason game of the 2025 season, per The Athletic's Alec Lewis and Chad Graff.
This isn't the first time Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell have held joint practices. They did the same back in 2023, when Vrabel was still the head coach for the Tennessee Titans. Both coaches are former teammates from the Patriots in 2008.
The Patriots and Vikings have met 14 times in the regular season with the Patriots leading the all-time series by a 9-5 margin. The last time the two teams played was on Thanksgiving Day in 2022 with Minnesota coming out on top in that matchup.
The practices between the two teams will have several intriguing storylines, including a meeting between 2024 quarterbacks, Maye and J.J. McCarthy. New England's secondary will also be tested right out of the gate against a Vikings offense with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison on the roster.
The matchups between Jefferson and Patriots All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez will especially be exciting. New England could use some iron sharpening iron ahead of a pivotal 2025 season.
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