AP

The Lions aren’t philosophically opposed to joint workouts with other teams, they just haven’t done it as long as Jim Caldwell’s been coaching there.

That changes this year, as the Lions have scheduled joint workouts with the Steelers, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

“We’ve looked at it every year,” Caldwell said. “And I’ve talked to several coaches and, sometimes, it didn’t fit, depending on when they wanted to work — if they wanted to work during the last week or the third week. Sometimes it just doesn’t blend together as well.”

They’ll practice together prior to playing each other in the exhibition opener on Aug. 12, with two days of practices on Aug. 9-10 at the Steelers camp in Latrobe, Pa.

It makes sense for the Lions, since half of their opponents play 3-4 defenses like Pittsburgh, and Caldwell and Tomlin have known each other for years, since they worked on the same Buccaneers staff in 2001.