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UPGRADES

Philadelphia up 7

Coming out of their bye week, the Birds hope to have right tackle Lane Johnson starting this weekend against the Giants. Johnson has been listed on the injury report with both knee and ankle injuries but was limited in Wednesday's practice with only an ankle listed. Assuming Johnson's knee has improved, Jordan Mailata could be relegated to the bench. There is an alternate lineup where Mailata plays left tackle and Jason Peters moves to right guard, but Mailata might be needed at right tackle if Johnson can't complete the game. In other news, the team designated starting left guard Isaac Seumalo to return from injured reserve and they have a 21-day window to evaluate his knee. There is a small chance Seumalo could go this Sunday but he is not included in the current rankings. The Eagles carry a top-3 grade without him and have room for further upgrades once Seumalo and Jack Driscoll return to health.

Cleveland up 1

Power blocking right guard Wyatt Teller returned to practice this week. Teller has missed several games with a calf injury, but he should be ready to go. This appears to be a modest one-slot upgrade but the difference between Teller and Chris Hubbard, especially in the run game, cannot be overstated. This line has earned an elite grade this weekend when the Browns host Houston.

Tampa Bay up 3

After missing last week's loss against New Orleans with a concussion left guard Ali Marpet has returned to practice and is likely start this weekend at Carolina. Marpet's return allows Joe Haeg to return to the swing tackle/extra tight end role he had been playing in the team's jumbo packages. The Buccaneers line benefits from solid play at all five positions. They carry a top-10 grade in the latest rankings.

San Francisco up 11

Left tackle Trent Williams was activated from Covid list shortly after last week's Thursday Night Football loss against Green Bay. Williams' return to health returns Justin Skule to the bench and places the 49ers' line at 13th overall prior to this week's match-up at New Orleans.

Buffalo up 4

Center Mitch Morse has practiced in full and is expected to start this weekend game at Arizona. Morse missed last week's home win over Seattle with a concussion but was replaced admirably by Jon Feliciano. Feliciano may yet be needed this week at guard, as there is still no sign of Cody Ford or Brian Winters at practice. Winters played 60 snaps last week while Ford only played 14. Despite the uncertainty at guard, the return of Morse boosts this line to decent status, 19th in the latest grades.

Miami up 3

The Dolphins activated left tackle Austin Jackson from injured reserve prior to Week 9 against Arizona. Jackson entered the game in the second quarter, moving Jesse Davis to right guard and Solomon Kindley to the bench. This line has quietly improved all season and this new lineup with Davis at guard is their most talented formation yet. The team appears to have hit on both their tackle draft picks this season, as both Jackson and second-round rookie Robert Hunt grade as above-average starters. This group trends upward, graded 23rd as they host the Chargers this weekend.

Cincinnati up 6

After their bye week, this line is getting several players back. Center Trey Hopkins has fully recovered from his concussion and his return at Pittsburgh will send Billy Price to the bench. At left tackle, Jonah Williams is questionable with a stinger while right tackle Bobby Hart is fighting through a knee injury. They are both included in the rankings, although this might be a leap of faith. In other news, the team activated Xavier Su'a-Filo from the injured reserve. The team has a 21-day practice window to evaluate his progress. This line has been a bottom dweller all season, but their return to health has boosted them to 25th.

Denver up 3

The team activated right guard Graham Glasgow from the Covid list and should have him in the lineup this weekend at Las Vegas. Glasgow is the team's highest-paid lineman, and his return prior to this divisional matchup has to be welcomed by the coaching staff. In related news, the team designated Elijah Wilkinson to return from injured reserve. Beat writers assume Wilkinson will start this weekend, as Demar Dotson was forced from last week's game with groin and hand injuries. Jake Rodgers replaced Dotson during the game but Wilkinson will start, if healthy.

DOWNGRADES

Las Vegas down 9

Left tackle Kolton Miller was a late scratch prior to last week's Chargers game and has not been practicing this week. Brandon Parker replaced Miller and will likely get another start this weekend against Denver. The Raiders' line has a strong interior core, but with Sam Young starting in place of Trent Brown, they are playing without both starting tackles.

Carolina down 8

Left tackle Russell Okung had a setback in his injury and didn't play last week against Kansas City after all. Greg Little, Trent Scott, and Dennis Daley all saw reps in replacement. It is unlikely that Okung returns to health in time for this week's game against Tampa Bay. The prospects are interesting but this will be a lower graded line until the left tackle situation settles.

LA Chargers down 4

Right tackle Bryan Bulaga started last week but only played 2 snaps before leaving the game against Las Vegas. Trey Pipkins replaced Bulaga during the game and will likely do so again this weekend at Miami. Bulaga and right guard Trai Turner have been plagued by injuries all season, and until they prove their fitness, neither can be included in the rankings.

OTHER NEWS

ARZ - Designated G J.R. Sweezey for return from IR. Sweezy might see time as Justin Murray has been held out of practice with a hand injury after playing 100% of snaps against Miami.

CHI - Activated RT Jason Spriggs from Covid list, allowing Germain Ifedi to slide back to right guard this Monday Night against Minnesota. This line is still unsteady.

DET - RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai has been playing through his foot injury, logging 68% of snaps against MIN last week

HOU - LG Max Scharping was activated off the COVID-19 list and might be needed as Senio Kelemete is likely out with a concussion. Brent Qvale played 77% of snaps at Jacksonville.

KCC - The team is on a bye week but they activated Martinas Rankin from PUP and could be getting RT Mitchell Schwartz healthy as well. Stay tuned.

LAR - RG David Edwards was added to the injury report with an abdomen but he is in the ranks. In related news, G Joe Noteboom was activated from injured reserve and could work toward pushing Edwards for his job back.

NEP - Designated RT Jermain Eluemunor for return from IR. The team will likely stick with Michael Onwenu at right tackle, but depth is always welcomed.

NYJ - The team is on a bye week, but LT Mekhi Becton was forced from MNF with a chest issue. Becton tweeted he is fine, but Chuma Edoga got 67% of snaps against New England.

NYG - The team activated Will Hernandez from COVID-19 list but it is unclear what the lineup will be. Shane Lemieux and Matt Peart have factored heavily in OL Coach Marc Columbo's rotation.

SEA - C Ethan Pocic played 100% of snaps last week against Buffalo but is on this week's injury report with a concussion. This line has acceptable depth so there's no change to ranks at this time.

TEN - LG Rodger Saffold only played 26 snaps vs CHI, Jamil Douglas replaced - Saffold is full participation this week and should be ready this Thursday against Indianapolis.

FULL RANKINGS