BMitch explains why Thursday's joint practice with Jets is so important for Commanders

The Commanders play the Jets on Saturday, but there will be a joint practice between the two teams on Thursday leading up to the game – something that is happening a lot around the league this preseason, including with New York's other team (the Giants) earlier this week before they play Detroit tomorrow.

"Some of the guys will not get a great opportunity to play against the Jets on Saturday, because they're gonna be doing a lot of practicing against them, and you're gonna have guys that don't do a lot of practicing against the Jets on Thursday that will get the opportunity to play on Saturday – and rightfully so," BMitch said Tuesday.

You can only see so much in a practice, and you're only going to see guys play so much in an actual preseason game, so these controlled scrimmages are where you can really work on things as you script them against other squads without too many ramifications.

And, for some guys, really, that's more of a priority.

"I think camp has been good overall, and as it comes up, everybody's ultimately excited about it – but all of a sudden, a week in, you can't wait for training camp to end," Brian said. "And then, you begin to get your second win because now there's a game coming up and you get excited by it, and this is a lot of guys' first time to get a chance to play. Some guys have a chance to go out there and perform now to change the mindset – there are veteran guys that know they're going to make it, so they're gonna put their work in Thursday, but there are other veterans who have to prove to the coaching staff and the front office that they could still go. And there are some guys nervous as hell right now."

In the new era with no roster cuts needed until you need to go from 90 to 53 at the end of preseason, there's less worry than before – but that may be why Brian thinks joint practices are maybe the most important part of the preseason for some.

"I'm sure there are guys in that locker room right now wondering if this is their next game, because if you don't perform well, and you don't get a chance of playing the game, you have to start thinking that something is transforming," B said. "So guys now are understanding that Thursday, some of us are going to get a great chance to show our talents against the New York Jets in a controlled situation, but now you're playing against somebody you hadn't been practicing against. After a certain period of time, the defensive players know what the offensive players are doing and vice versa, and there are guys on the team that cut deals to get through practice – but that won't happen with the Jets, and vice versa."

So, to Brian, THIS is when football really starts.

"We say football starts when camp starts, but actually, it starts now for the Commanders – because next time they step on the field, they'll be competing against somebody else, and not their teammates," he said. "You're playing against somebody now that's gonna be trying to make a name for themselves against you and vice versa, and with the way the Jets finished up last year, I am looking at this as a great competition for the Washington Commanders. You're playing somebody else who still wants to impress their coach, and you damn well better want to impress your coach for sure."