NFL news, injury updates: Jalen Hurts remains in concussion protocol, Josh Allen loses feeling in throwing hand

The veteran quarterback, who retired after last season and coached his alma mater to a Florida state title this month, is signing back with the Lions, who he played for last season.

"To be able to add somebody back here that's got experience," said Lions head coach DanCampbell on Thursday. "He's staying in shape, he's throwing. It just brings a level of professionalism, veteran presence, somebody that's great for our team, he's great for the position. Doesn't mean we're disappointed in [Hendon] Hooker. That's not what this means. It just means this gives us somebody that's played a lot in the NFL. It'll be good to get him back in the fold with us."

Bridgewater has been signed to the active roster and will join Jared Goff and Hendon Hooker in the Lions' quarterback room.

Read more on Bridgewater's NFL return here.

Backup Kenny Pickett has been limited with a rib injury. The Eagles have signed quarterback Ian Book to the practice squad.

Veteran edge rusher Shaq Barrett, who announced his retirement before the 2024 season, but expressed a desire to play again last month, has been waived by the Dolphins, opening the door for him to return to the field should he sign on with another team.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Barrett is being waived from the Reserve Retired List and should he clear waivers on Friday, he'll be free to play this season. But if a team claims him, he will be ineligible to return this season.

Barrett signed a one-year, $9 million deal with the Dolphins as a free agent this offseason after being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in February. He was due to be paid a $15.04 million option bonus if the Bucs hadn't cut him before the new league year began in March. Miami signed him two weeks later.

In his five seasons with the Bucs, Barrett was named to two Pro Bowls, played on four playoff teams and won Super Bowl LV (2021) in Tampa Bay's home stadium. During the 2020 postseason, he had three sacks against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship and added one more versus the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

Barrett led the NFL with 19 1/2 sacks in 2019, adding 58 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 37 quarterback hits. He reached double-digit sacks in one more season, compiling 10 in 2021.

Several players will be missing Thursday Night Football this week.

Russell Wilson went all out for his offensive line this Christmas. He got them:

• A $10,000 Airbnb gift card

• A Louis Vuitton duffel bag in Steelers colors

• Custom Steelers Good Man Brand shoes

• A bottle of his wife Ciara’s TenToOne Rum

George Pickens is good to go for tomorrow's game against the Chiefs. He's officially off the Steelers' injury report after dealing with a hamstring injury.

Justin Fields, however, is questionable with an abdominal injury.

Chase Brown won't be fined for his Salvation Army jump after all. The NFL tried to fine Brown more than $5,000 for jumping into the iconic kettle after he scored a touchdown against the Cowboys earlier this month.

Brown didn't know he was going to get hit with a fine, either.

"Do I really?" Brown responded when told by reporters. "I hope not... Like big fine?"

When asked if the fine would be worth it, Brown joked, "No! Definitely not. I don't make enough money for that s**t."

After leaving last night's win over the Saints early, the Packers got some good news on Christian Watson. The wide receiver is dealing with "just a bruise" in his left knee, and could play on Sunday against the Vikings.

That game will be critical in both the NFC North and NFC playoff race.

His season is already over, but this is a very positive update for Olu Fashanu.

DB Chamarri Conner and T D.J. Humphries will miss the Chiefs' Christmas Day game against the Steelers after being ruled out on Tuesday.

T Jawaan Taylor and DL Chris Jones are listed as questionable.

Jones suffered a calf injury during Kansas City's win over the Houston Texans on Saturday. Taylor left the Texans game with a knee injury and did not return in the third quarter.

Despite the short week and an early game on Christmas Day, the Kansas City Chiefs aren't concerned about the status of Mahomes for the game against the Steelers.

Mahomes injured his ankle in Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns, but showed no signs of it affecting his play during a win over the Houston Texans six days later where he went 28-for-41 for 260 yards and a touchdown. Mahomes also picked up 33 yards on the ground and scored on a 15-yard scamper.

"Obviously the body's going to be sore just with a short week and everything like that, but I think the ankle should be in a better place," Mahomes said Monday. "We'll see in practice [Monday], but as far as how I felt after this game compared to the one before, I'm definitely in a lot better place.''

Out of playoff contention, 49ers LT Trent Williams will miss the final two games of the season as he deals with an ankle injury.

"(He) hasn't been able to improve enough to get him out there," said head coach Kyle Shanahan. "We don't see that happening enough in these two weeks, especially the situation we're in."

The 49ers have been without Williams, an 11-time Pro Bowler and three-time First-team All-Pro, for their last five games.

Pickens has missed the past two games due to a hamstring injury. He leads the team in receptions (55), targets (90), receiving yards (850) and has scored three touchdowns this season.

The Steelers have a quick turnaround following Saturday's defeat to the Baltimore Ravens. They will host the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday, Christmas Day, at home at 1 p.m. ET.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni didn't have any medical updates regarding injured quarterback Jalen Hurts after Sunday's loss to the Commanders, but confirmed on Monday that Hurts remains in concussion protocol after injuring his head against Washington.

The Eagles finished the game with backup Kenny Pickett at quarterback and lost to fall a game behind the Lions and Vikings in the race for the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. Hurts' status will remain of significant interest as the Eagles prepare to face the Cowboys on Sunday.

While it's America's Team that is getting the boot, the NFL made the right move here. The Cowboys-Eagles game set for Sunday will now kick off at 1 p.m. ET. The Packers-Vikings matchup — which will have serious playoff and NFC North implications — will take it's place in the 4:35 p.m. ET slot.

After his gruesome injury in their loss to the Chiefs, Texans wide receiver Tank Dell is set for surgery and a long recovery. He dislocated his knee, tore his ACL and more, head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed on Monday.

He's out for the rest of the year, and will now start working toward recovering in time for the start of next season. Dell, who is in his second season in the league, finished with 667 receiving yards and three touchdowns on a career-high 51 receptions.

Tight end Luke Musgrave, who hasn't played since Week 4, is being activated by the Green Bay Packers for their Monday night matchup with the New Orleans Saints.

Musgrave, 24, injured his ankle when it was pinned underneath players during a tackle and eventually required surgery for a torn ligament.

Last season, the tight end appeared in 11 games (starting nine), catching 34 passes (on 46 targets) for 352 yards and one touchdown. Before his injury, Musgrave had five receptions for 22 yards.