A series of intense skirmishes erupted during a joint practice involving two NFC rivals, transforming standard pre-season training into a chaotic scene.
On Monday, during a joint session between the Detroit Lions and the New York Giants, three notable fights occurred, injecting an unexpected burst of energy into the session.
The first incident unfolded as Giants cornerback Dane Belton and Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown became embroiled in a shoving match after Belton knocked the ball from St. Brown’s grasp.
Nearby, Giants corner Andru Phillips also pushed Lions pass catcher Jameson Williams.
The altercation continued for a while, with players rushing in to join the fray before calm was eventually restored between the teams.
Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) pushes Andru Phillips (24) in the initial fight between the Detroit Lions and New York Giants during Monday’s practice.
The third fight that broke out between the Giants and Lions during Monday’s joint practice.
Shortly thereafter, amidst the Giants’ offensive session, a second brawl erupted, with Giants quarterback Daniel Jones prominently involved.
The exact trigger for this second clash remains unclear.
Then, just when it seemed the tensions had eased, a third fight broke out, once again featuring Phillips at the center of the conflict.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen even stepped in, reported by The Athletic’s Charlotte Carroll, as he attempted to defuse the situation.
Such inter-squad practices are not uncommon to escalate into fights during the preseason.
However, this marks one of the first instances of altercations this preseason.
While the Lions and Giants do not face off during the regular season, they are scheduled to kick off their preseason against each other in just three days.
Following that, New York will compete against the Houston Texans before concluding their preseason against their city rivals, the New York Jets.
On the other hand, Detroit will face the Kansas City Chiefs after their matchup with the Giants, ending their preseason with a home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
