The NFL has announced two Saturday games for the Week 17 schedule.
On Saturday, December 27, the Texans will play the Chargers at 4:30 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Then the Ravens will play the Packers at 8 p.m. ET on Peacock.
The NFL uses flexible scheduling to put big games in broadcast windows that everyone can watch. The league announced when the schedule came out during the offseason that there would be games on Saturday, December 27, but it did not announce at the time which games would be played on that date. Now we know it’s Texans-Chargers and Ravens-Packers, two games featuring four teams in playoff contention.
The league will also play two games on the final Saturday of the regular season, January 3. Those games may not be announced until six days in advance.
The Lions have added a veteran safety.
Detroit has claimed Jalen Mills off of waivers after he was let go by Houston, the club announced on Wednesday.
Mills, 31, appeared in four games for Houston this season with one start. He tallied four total tackles in his 48 defensive snaps and 31 special teams snaps.
A seventh-round pick in the 2016 draft, Mills has played 119 career games with 92 starts for the Eagles, Patriots, Jets, and Texans.
As a corresponding move to get Mills on the roster, the Lions waived tight end Hayden Rucci.
The Texans will be getting a pair of offensive players back at practice this week.
They announced that they have designated tight end Harrison Bryant and wide receiver Justin Watson for return from injured reserve. Both players will have a 21-day window to practice with the team before they must be activated or shut down for the season. They can be activated at any point in that window.
Bryant last played on November 9 and has been out with neck and shoulder injuries. He was acquired in a preseason trade with the Eagles and had two catches for seven yards in eight appearances for Houston.
Watson has been out since Week 2 with an Achilles injury. He had two catches for 30 yards in the first two weeks of the season.
It looks like the Cardinals will have to try to snap their five-game losing streak without the help of left tackle Paris Johnson.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Johnson has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL. Johnson left Sunday’s loss to the Rams as a result of the injury.
Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon did not have an update on Johnson’s outlook at his Monday press conference, but, per the report, he is considered week-to-week and is expected to miss some time before he’s able to return to action.
Rookie Josh Fryar stepped in for Johnson against the Rams and is in line to get the start against the Texans this Sunday.
The Texans claimed running back Cody Schrader off waivers from the Jaguars on Monday, the team announced.
The Jaguars waived him last week.
Schrader played one game for the Rams this season, against the Texans, and he saw action on four special teams snaps. He also played one game for the Rams in 2024.
The Texans waived fullback Jakob Johnson in a corresponding move.
Johnson signed with the Texans in the offseason and has bounced between the team’s practice squad and active roster this season. He also has had a stint on injured reserve.
Johnson has appeared in seven games, with two starts, in 2025. He has played 86 offensive snaps and 44 on special teams, totaling one tackle.
