It took less than one full day of joint practice for the Jets and Redskins to start brawling.
On Sunday, the first day of the teams' joint practices ahead of Thursday's preseason game, the Jets and Redskins got mixed up in a brawl that reporters in attendance described as "HUGE," "SERIOUS," and "crazy," which reportedly led to fans getting into a fight of their own. According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, there were two -- not just one -- fights between the teams.
Here's one account of the skirmishes:
Morgan Moses is down. Trent Williams is not happy. He’s throwing hands. A HUGE brawl broke out.
— Master (@MasterTes) August 12, 2018
The brawl spilled over into the crowd. Media wasn’t able to record during this period, but there’s gonna be some crazy fan footage from it.
— Master (@MasterTes) August 12, 2018
Now Washington and Jets fans are fighting in the stands.
— Master (@MasterTes) August 12, 2018
I miss this place.
Now there’s another fight between Washington and Jets players on the sideline. This is wild.
— Master (@MasterTes) August 12, 2018
The footage that has emerged is exactly what you'd expect: poor visibility of bodies clustered around each other, some pushing and shoving, fans cheering on the players, and too much NSFW language which makes the posting of those videos difficult.
But here's a sample of the brawl featuring the cleanest possible audio:
Here’s some footage of the Washington-Jets brawl, via Washington fan @LeeBarnes2000pic.twitter.com/0dTtjrT2Cu
— Master (@MasterTes) August 12, 2018
Huge fight! pic.twitter.com/nucpWMqZCA
— Chris Rye (@Chrisrye88) August 12, 2018
According to players, it started with a "cheap shot" by Jets cornerback Trumaine Johnson.
“It was a cheap shot. We reacted how we reacted. It settled down, and we just kept practicing.” - LT Trent Williams.
— Master (@MasterTes) August 12, 2018
Players say Jets CB Trumaine Johnson took the “cheap shot” on Morgan Moses.
Morgan Moses left with an injury, but he's apparently OK.
Morgan Moses leaving the field. Slight limp. He’s very upset.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) August 12, 2018
Morgan Moses is OK; Ty Nsekhe aggravated a lower extremity.
— John Keim (@john_keim) August 12, 2018
This shouldn't be treated as an unexpected event. Fights at training camp, even when two teams aren't involved, aren't uncommon. And they're definitely not uncommon at joint practices. Throw in the animosity between Terrelle Pryor -- who signed with the Jets this offseason after a lackluster one-year run with the Redskins -- and the Redskins, and this was just an outcome waiting to happen.
"The boys are going to have it out for him," Redskins linebacker Zach Brown said in June on WTEM-AM The Team 980 in Washington, according to ESPN. "Oh, man, I can't wait to see that."
Sure enough, Pryor and Redskins cornerback Josh Norman did some talking, though the two of them avoided starting a fight.
Ohhh boy. Here we go. Terrelle Pryor and Josh Norman start a little extra pushing. Then talking. No fists. But entire Redskins D got in on talking to Pryor as he walked back to the huddle #Jets
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) August 12, 2018
After practice ended due to rain and lightning (Sunday really had everything to offer), Norman expressed his clear displeasure for joint practices.
"Wasn't like nobody knew that was going to happen in the first place," he told reporters, via The Washington Post's Kimberley A. Martin. "Now, these joint practices, you expect them to happen. Obviously, you get guys who come out here and try to get some good work. But other guys do some things that other guys just don't like, and that's kind of what happens. It's kinda crazy, but guys are trying to make teams on both squads, trying to do something extra than they normally would do. Guys just don't like this type of stuff. They take it in their own hands, and I guess melees happen. That's what happens when you get joint practices. Personally, I think practicing against ourselves would be better. But I don't make the rules and I sure don't make these calls."
Of note: The teams have two more days of practices until they face each other in an actual game on Thursday.