How do OTAs and training camps work in the NFL?

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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