How do OTAs and training camps work in the NFL?

ByKeith Jenkins ESPN logo
Thursday, June 6, 2024

Ten NFLteams have opened mandatory minicamp, marking another checkpoint in the countdown to the 2024-25 season, the league's 105th.



The Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans have all kicked off their respective three-day minicamps. The other 22 teams will begin their mandatory minicamps next week.



Here's everything you need to know about the NFL's remaining offseason schedule:



What is mandatory minicamp?



Each team is allowed to conduct one mandatory minicamp during the third and final phase of the NFL's OTAs, or organized team activities.



Phase 1 focuses on strength and conditioning, while Phase 2 allows offenses and defenses to practice together but not against each another.



Phase 3, or mandatory minicamp, usually takes place during the first or second week of June and players are allowed to wear helmets and compete in "live" situations.



What makes mandatory minicamp different from the rest of NFL OTAs?



The biggest difference is it's mandatory. While previous portions of the teams' offseason workouts were voluntary, players must attend minicamp or be subjected to fines.



How much can players be fined for missing mandatory minicamp?



Players who miss minicamp without an excused absence can be fined $16,953 for the first day, $33,908 for the second day and $50,855 for the third day, or a total of $101,716, according to the terms of the NFL's current collective bargaining agreement.



Can teams hold full-contact practices during mandatory minicamp?



Full pads and full contact are prohibited until training camp.



When does NFL training camp begin?



The 90-man roster will break following mandatory minicamp and then reconvene in July for training camp.



Teams will announce their exact 2024 training camp schedules later this month.



Here are notable upcoming dates for all 32 NFL teams:



Arizona Cardinals



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 10 vs. Saints (8 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 at Bills (1 p.m. ET)



Atlanta Falcons



Mandatory minicamp: June 10-12



Preseason opener: Aug. 9 at Dolphins (7 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 vs. Steelers (1 p.m. ET)



Baltimore Ravens



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 9 vs. Eagles (7:30 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 5 at Chiefs (8:20 p.m. ET)



Buffalo Bills



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 10 vs. Bears (1 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 vs. Cardinals (1 p.m. ET)



Carolina Panthers



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 8 at Patriots (7 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 at Saints (1 p.m. ET)



Chicago Bears



Mandatory minicamp: June 4-6



Preseason opener: Aug. 1 vs. Texans (8 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 vs. Titans (1 p.m. ET)



Cincinnati Bengals



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 10 vs. Buccaneers (7 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 vs. Patriots (1 p.m. ET)



Cleveland Browns



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 10 vs. Packers (4:25 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 vs. Cowboys (4:25 p.m. ET)



Dallas Cowboys



Mandatory minicamp: June 4-6



Preseason opener: Aug. 11 at Rams (4:25 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 at Browns (4:25 p.m. ET)



Denver Broncos



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 11 at Colts (1 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 at Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET)



Detroit Lions



Mandatory minicamp: June 4-6



Preseason opener: Aug. 8 at Giants (7 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 vs. Rams (8:20 p.m. ET)



Green Bay Packers



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 10 at Browns (4:25 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 6 at Eagles (8:15 p.m. ET)



Houston Texans



Mandatory minicamp: June 4-6



Preseason opener: Aug. 1 vs. Bears (8 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 at Colts (1 p.m. ET)



Indianapolis Colts



Mandatory minicamp: June 4-6



Preseason opener: Aug. 11 vs. Broncos (1 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 vs. Texans (1 p.m. ET)



Jacksonville Jaguars



Mandatory minicamp: June 10-12



Preseason opener: Aug. 10 vs. Chiefs (8 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 at Dolphins (1 p.m. ET)



Kansas City Chiefs



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 10 at Jaguars (8 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 5 vs. Ravens (8:20 p.m. ET)



Las Vegas Raiders



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 10 at Vikings (4 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 at Chargers (4:05 p.m. ET)



Los Angeles Chargers



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 10 vs. Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 vs. Raiders (4:05 p.m. ET)



Los Angeles Rams



Mandatory minicamp: June 10-12



Preseason opener: Aug. 11 vs. Cowboys (4:25 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 at Lions (8:20 p.m. ET)



Miami Dolphins



Mandatory minicamp: June 4-6



Preseason opener: Aug. 9 vs. Falcons (7 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 vs. Jaguars (1 p.m. ET)



Minnesota Vikings



Mandatory minicamp: June 4-6



Preseason opener: Aug. 10 vs. Raiders (4 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 at Giants (1 p.m. ET)



New England Patriots



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 8 vs. Panthers (7 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 at Bengals (1 p.m. ET)



New Orleans Saints



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 10 at Cardinals (8 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 vs. Panthers (1 p.m. ET)



New York Giants



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 8 vs. Lions (7 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 vs. Vikings (1 p.m. ET)



New York Jets



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 10 at Commanders (Noon ET)



Season opener: Sept. 9 at 49ers (8:15 p.m. ET)



Philadelphia Eagles



Mandatory minicamp: June 4-6



Preseason opener: Aug. 9 at Ravens (7:30 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 6 vs. Packers (8:15 p.m. ET)



Pittsburgh Steelers



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 9 vs. Texans (7 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 at Falcons (1 p.m. ET)



San Francisco 49ers



Mandatory minicamp: June 4-6



Preseason opener: Aug. 10 at Titans (7 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 9 vs. Jets (8:15 p.m. ET)



Seattle Seahawks



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 10 at Chargers (4:05 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 vs. Broncos (4:05 p.m. ET)



Tampa Bay Buccaneers



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 10 at Bengals (7 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 vs. Commanders (4:25 p.m. ET)



Tennessee Titans



Mandatory minicamp: June 4-6



Preseason opener: Aug. 10 vs. 49ers (7 p.m. ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 at Bears (1 p.m. ET)



Washington Commanders



Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13



Preseason opener: Aug. 10 vs. Jets (Noon ET)



Season opener: Sept. 8 at Buccaneers (4:25 p.m. ET)



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