NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/29/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB Ameer Speed
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: QB Seth Henigan
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DT Kyler Baugh
- Released: CB Daryl Porter
The Steelers shook up their practice squad today by shuffling through defenders. The team brought back former Minnesota standout Kyler Baugh, who spent most of this season on Pittsburgh’s taxi squad. He was cut by the squad last week. In a corresponding move, the team moved on from Daryl Porter, who got into one game with the Steelers this season.
The Colts appear to be trending towards ending Phillip Rivers‘ comeback story and opting for Riley Leonard as their Week 18 starter at QB. The team started the process today by adding an extra signal-caller to the practice squad in Seth Henigan. The Memphis product spent the preseason in Jacksonville, and he spent about a month on the Jaguars practice squad before earning his walking papers.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/29/25
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: WR Chris Blair, EDGE Khalid Kareem
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers (from Bears): DT Jonathan Ford
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: WR Justin Watson
- Waived: DE Solomon Byrd
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: OL AJ Arcuri, S Tanner Ingle
- Activated from IR: CB Roger McCreary
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed from practice squad: CB Zemaiah Vaughn
- Placed on IR: DL Elijah Williams
New England Patriots
- Waived: CB Miles Battle, OL Brenden Jaimes
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: LS Charley Hughlett
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: RB Josh Williams
The Packers added a former Bear ahead of a potential playoff matchup with the division rival. Jonathan Ford actually started his NFL career in Green Bay, although the seventh-round pick never got into a game with the Packers. He appeared in 12 games with Chicago between 2024 and 2025, collecting 13 tackles while seeing time in about a quarter of his team’s defensive snaps.
Patriots OT Will Campbell Expected To Return To Practice
The Patriots are starting to get healthy at the perfect time. Following last week’s news that Milton Williams returned to practice, the Patriots are also expected to welcome back OT Will Campbell to the practice field this week, Mike Vrabel told reporters (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss).
[RELATED: Patriots To Open DT Milton Williams’ IR-Return Window]
Campbell landed on injured reserve in late November after spraining his MCL in a Week 12 win over the Bengals. It seems the rookie left tackle may only require a minimum stay on injured reserve, as this is the first week he can be activated. As the Patriots prepare for the playoffs, there’s a good chance the team will look for Campbell to knock off some rust in Week 18.
The Patriots used the fourth-overall pick in this year’s draft on the LSU product. While there were some questions about Campbell’s ability to succeed at offensive tackle in the NFL, the lineman did plenty to quiet the critics through the first chunk of his rookie campaign. Pro Football Focus currently ranks Campbell 34th among 86 qualifying offensive tackles, including a top-20 positional grade for his pass-blocking ability.
PFF also credited Campbell with a 96.5 efficiency rating, with the website attributing five sacks to the rookie offensive lineman. Notably, Campbell allowed only one pressure and no sacks through the final three games before his injury.
As Vrabel explained to reporters, the rookie LT has still been a constant presence in the locker room over the past month. In addition to rehabbing at Gillette Stadium, Campbell also joined his teammates for trips to Baltimore and New Jersey.
“Will cares deeply about this team and the players on it,” Vrabel said (via Mark Daniels of MassLive.com). “That was his decision. I usually would rather these guys stay, get some rest, recover, and get treatment. Once he started feeling good enough to travel, he asked to go. It can only help him to be around his teammates and be in the game.”
While Campbell’s been out of the lineup, the team turned to Vederian Lowe to soak up reps at left tackle. After grading out as one of the NFL’s worst offensive tackles through his first three seasons in the NFL, the veteran has performed a bit better in 2025, with PFF ranking him 60th among 86 qualifiers.
Chargers To Sit Justin Herbert In Week 18, Trey Lance To Start
Justin Herbert‘s regular season has come to an end. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters today that his starting QB will not play in Week 18. Trey Lance will earn the start, with practice squad QB DJ Uiagalelei garnering an elevation to serve as the QB2.
The Chargers’ loss to the Texans on Saturday officially knocked them out of contention for the AFC West title and home-field advantage, meaning the team will solely be playing for playoff positioning in Week 18. With Herbert still nursing a hand injury that he’s been playing through for more than a month, Harbaugh decided to pull the trigger and bench his QB1 for the season finale. In fact, the coach indicated that a handful of starters may be kept out of Sunday’s matchup vs. the Broncos.
“Winning and health, being healthy, those are our two objectives,” Harbaugh said (via ESPN’s Kris Rhim). “And guys that we think — the doctors, the trainers, myself, organization — that have the most bruises and need that time the most, we’ve decided that’s the direction we’re going.”
Harbaugh also made it clear that his decision has nothing to do with manipulating the standings to secure a preferred first-round playoff matchup.
“Health and winning. That’s it,” the coach said. “There’s no way to predict. We’re going on the road, first round. All potential teams would be good, and we’ll get ourselves ready for that.”
Herbert’s 2025 season will end with 3,727 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He also compiled a career-high 498 rushing yards. For his efforts, Herbert earned his second career Pro Bowl nod.
Lance will now get an opportunity to show what he’s got. The former third-overall pick last started a game for the Cowboys in 2024, when he completed 20 of 34 pass attempts for 244 yards. Lance inked a one-year deal with the Chargers this past offseason to serve as Herbert’s primary backup. He’s seen time in three games, completing seven of his 13 pass attempts for 90 yards.
If the Texans defeat the free-falling Colts in the early window next Sunday, the Chargers will be playing for either the sixth seed (in which case they’d likely match up with the Jaguars) or the seventh seed (in which case they’d likely match up with the Patriots). Either way, the organization clearly believes that an extra week of rest for Herbert will only increase their chances of pulling off a first-round upset.
Steelers’ T.J. Watt To Play In Club’s Next Meaningful Game
DECEMBER 28: There is good news on the Watt front. Per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link), Watt is in a “very good place” in terms of his health and is expected to play in the Steelers’ next meaningful game. If they defeat the Browns in Week 17 and clinch the AFC North as a result, Watt will sit out the regular season finale against Baltimore. If Pittsburgh loses to Cleveland, thus setting up a Week 18 bout with the Ravens for the division title and a playoff berth, Watt will suit up.
DECEMBER 27: The Steelers have ruled out Watt for Week 17. While Mike Tomlin said the Ravens’ result Saturday would affect his approach for Sunday’s Browns matchup, as the Steelers would be guaranteed the AFC North title with a Baltimore loss in Green Bay, Watt will not play regardless of outcome.
DECEMBER 24: Watt returned to practice on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. His participation alone is a good sign for his health and indicates that he could play again this season, though the Steelers will understandably be cautious before exposing Watt to full-contact action. Also back at practice was third-year edge rusher Nick Herbig, per Pryor, who missed Sunday’s win over the Lions with a hamstring injury,
DECEMBER 22: Steelers star T.J. Watt has missed the past two games while recovering from surgery on a partially collapsed lung. Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like he’s any closer to a return.
[RELATED: Steelers’ T.J. Watt Undergoes Surgery On Partially Collapsed Lung]
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the pass rusher’s return to play “remains murky and uncertain.” At the moment, Watt’s focus is solely on his recovery, with his potential return to field being considered “secondary.”
Of course, as the Steelers push for a playoff spot, Watt’s potential return will still command attention. Per Schefter, doctors will continue to monitor how Watt feels this week to determine if it’s even possible for him to suit up for Sunday’s matchup against the Browns. However, the ideal path would see Watt garner “more time to recover.” The former Defensive Player of the Year is expected to make a full recovery.
Watt was admitted to the hospital earlier this month with a lung injury. It was later determined that the collapsed lung was a result of a common dry needling procedure that he underwent at the team facility. He was quickly released from the hospital, but he’s yet to take the field since his injury.
The NFLPA was subsequently in contact with the player’s camp, although it’s uncertain if they’ll take any action against the Steelers franchise. Tyrod Taylor famously suffered a punctured lung while receiving a pain-killing injection in 2020; he later sued the Chargers for medical malpractice. After Watt inked a three-year extension this past offseason that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, it’s uncertain if he would look to take such a drastic stance against the franchise.
While the off-the-field narrative is worth watching, the Steelers are currently focused on their on-the-field product. Despite Watt being out of the lineup, the Steelers have won each of their past two games to take a two-game lead in the AFC North. A Watt-less defense would surely impact the team’s ability to make noise in the playoffs, but the Steelers can rest easy about their postseason chances regardless of the pass rusher’s status.
Jaguars Extend WR Jakobi Meyers
DECEMBER 25: The Meyers pact contains $30MM guaranteed at signing, as detailed by Over the Cap. That figure consists of a $7MM signing bonus, a $10MM option bonus in 2026 and his full salary ($6MM) for next year. Meyers’ base pay for 2027 is already partially locked in, and his new deal contains annual per-game and workout bonuses.
DECEMBER 18: Jakobi Meyers has been in Jacksonville for just over a month, and the Jaguars are already committing to the wide receiver for the long haul. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Jaguars are signing Meyers to a three-year extension. The move is now official, per a team announcement.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the three-year pact is worth $60MM, including $40MM guaranteed. The $20MM average annual value will place Meyers 25th on the list of the league’s highest-paid WRs. The $40MM in guaranteed money now ranks 24th at the position.
The Jaguars acquired Meyers from the Raiders in early November for fourth- and sixth-round picks. The veteran has seen a significant role in his first six appearances with the organization, hauling in 27 catches for 355 yards and three touchdowns. Most notably, the Jaguars have gone 5-1 in those six games and are second in points scored over that span. As James Palmer of NFL Network details, people in the Jaguars organization believe the receiver has “transformed” the offense, with Jordan Schultz adding that he’s never heard a team speak so “glowingly and positively” about a midseason acquisition.
With Meyers now locked in for the next few years, Trevor Lawrence can count on some continuity with his receivers corps. The Jaguars have used their last two first-round picks on wideouts Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter. Thomas has taken a bit of a step back following a productive rookie campaign, while Hunter’s rookie season ended with only 298 receiving yards. Still, the trio should now lead one of the most intriguing WR rooms moving forward.
Meyers proved his consistency early on in his NFL career. Despite the Patriots alternating between Tom Brady, Cam Newton, and Mac Jones at QB, the wide receiver managed to carve out a role in each of his first three seasons. New England curiously decided to pivot to JuJu Smith-Schuster during the 2023 offseason, opening the door for Meyers to ink a three-year deal with the Raiders. The wideout experienced another carousel of QBs in Las Vegas, but he still managed to compile 1,881 yards and 14 touchdowns through his first two years with the organization.
As an impending free agent, Meyers seemed like a prime trade candidate heading into this year’s deadline. In seven games with the Raiders in 2025, the veteran hauled in 33 catches for 352 yards. In total, he’s snagged 60 catches for 707 yards and three touchdowns this season. Meyers’ extension will remove him from what was already an underwhelming WR free agency class. Mike Evans will lead that grouping, with the likes of Wan’Dale Robinson, Deebo Samuel and former Jaguar Christian Kirk representing the other top names on the market.
Steelers “Reaffirmed Their Commitment” To D.K. Metcalf
D.K. Metcalf‘s two-game suspension was upheld earlier this evening. While the ban will obviously keep the Steelers receiver off the field for the rest of the regular season, it will also have an impact on his cap outlook moving forward.
[RELATED: Steelers WR D.K. Metcalf Issued Two-Game Suspension]
As noted earlier tonight, the suspension also voided the $45MM in guaranteed money that was remaining on the player’s contract. That includes the $25MM that was fully guaranteed for next season. Metcalf will also forfeit $555K in salary. The 28-year-old inked a five-year, $150MM extension with the franchise following his offseason trade from Seattle.
Of course, this wrinkle would only be notable if the Steelers suddenly wanted out of their commitment with the player. It doesn’t sound like that’s the case, at least for the time being. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the team “reaffirmed their commitment” to Metcalf for 2026 and beyond. The two sides plan to move forward “together,” following Mike Tomlin‘s vote of confidence from earlier today.
“He did explain to me why he did what he did. And I certainly don’t condone the behavior, but I support DK,” Tomlin said (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “And I really don’t have a lot to add other than what I just told you.”
The suspension stemmed from Metcalf’s altercation with a fan in Detroit on Sunday. Meanwhile, Pelissero reports that neither the NFL nor the Lions plan to take action against the other individual because “there was no violation of the fan code of conduct.”
Metcalf’s suspension was upheld by commissioner Roger Goodell’s designee, former NFL coach Chris Palmer (per ESPN’s Adam Schefter). Former wideout Jordy Nelson has served in a similar role for a handful of suspensions during the 2025 season, including Denzel Perryman‘s recent appeal.
Vikings Activate RB Ty Chandler From IR
The Vikings will welcome back Ty Chandler for the final two weeks of the season. The team announced that they’ve activated the running back from injured reserve.
Chandler suffered a knee injury way back in Week 1 that ultimately kept him off the field for several months. He returned to practice earlier this month, and now he’ll be activated to the active roster for the final stretch of the season.
The former fifth-round pick has seen an inconsistent offensive role through his three-plus seasons in the NFL. He got his most work as a sophomore in 2023, when he finished with 620 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns on 123 touches. In his other three professional seasons, Chandler has been limited to 244 yards on 68 touches.
The 27-year-old has also earned himself some playing time with his special teams work. Chandler returned 12 kickoffs between 2023 and 2024, averaging 25.2 yards. He appeared to have the full-time KR gig in 2025, as he returned three kickoffs for 84 yards in the season opener.
Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason have led the depth chart this season, meaning Chandler would have been limited to backup reps even if he was healthy. The Vikings have also given looks to C.J. Ham, Zavier Scott, and Cam Akers. Chandler is set to hit free agency after this season, so he’ll have a final chance to show suitors that he’s fully healthy.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/23/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Eugene Asante
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB M.J. Devonshire
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Michael Reid
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Thomas Gordon
Denver Broncos
- Placed on practice squad/injured: S Delarrin Turner-Yell
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: RB Royce Freeman
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: S Jack Henderson
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Elijah Mitchell, WR Brandon Smith
- Released: OT Sebastian Gutierrez
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Tyler Hall
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Nick Jackson
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/23/25
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Designated for return from IR: OL Luke Newman
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: RB Quinshon Judkins (story)
Houston Texans
- Designated for return from IR: CB Ajani Carter
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed from practice squad: RB Jaret Patterson
New England Patriots
- Signed from practice squad: OL Brenden Jaimes
- Placed on IR: DT Joshua Farmer
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Returned to practice: RB Josh Williams
Washington Commanders
- Waived: WR Jamal Agnew
Buccaneers running back Josh Williams returned to practice today after serving his six-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. According to ESPN’s Jenna Laine, the player’s suspension has been officially lifted and he’s now attached to the exempt/commissioner permission designation, which doesn’t count against the 53-man roster limit. However, Williams will need to be activated to the actual roster if the Buccaneers want him on the field before the season ends. The running back has seen time in three games this season, collecting 11 yards on four touches.
Meanwhile, Jamal Agnew won’t be joining the Commanders after he was claimed off waivers yesterday. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the veteran wide receiver was waived today with a failed physical designation.