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UPGRADES

Cleveland up 11

After missing two games with a knee injury, All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin returned to practice this week in full. With left tackle Jedrick Wills (ankle) returning to health, the Browns finally have their optimal starting five in the lineup. Blake Hance has done a respectable job, Conklin can take over a game. With division rival Pittsburgh coming to town, Conklin's return is just in time. Cleveland's slide down the rankings was brief, but this week the offensive line regains their top ranking, prior to hosting a very tough Steelers' defensive front seven.

Washington up 10

All Pro right guard Brandon Scherff returned to practice after missing a month with a knee injury. With his replacement Wes Schweitzer not practicing due to a neck injury, it's not clear who would be the right guard if Scherff wasn't able to travel to Denver this weekend. In other news, promising rookie Sam Cosmi remains out with an ankle injury, Cornelius Lucas will start his third straight contest. Still, the likely return of Scherff (and other injuries around the league) are good enough for a 9th overall ranking in the latest grades.

New England up 5

Before last week's blowout victory over the NY Jets, the Patriots got their left tackle Isaiah Wynn and their right guard Shaq Mason into the lineup. With Ted Karras settling into a grove at left guard, their form is trending upward. Although right tackle Trent Brown is still on injured reserve with a calf injury, Mike Onwenu has played well in his place. It all adds up to 12th in the current rankings, just before traveling to Los Angeles to face a decent Chargers' defensive front coming off a bye.

Tennessee up 10

Good news for the Titans as left tackle Taylor Lewan is out of concussion protocol and has been practicing in full. Last week, Kendall Lamm only made it through about a third of the offensive snaps before leaving with an ankle injury. Bobby Hart took the rest of the reps. Lamm is better than Hart but neither brings the fire of Lewan, who is an offensive leader. Tennessee's offensive line ranks 18th prior to this week's difficult matchup at Indianapolis.

DOWNGRADES

New Orleans down 1

It was mixed news for New Orleans this week. The Saints got left tackle Terron Armstead and center Erik McCoy in their lineup prior to Monday Night Football against Seattle. However, they lost left guard Andrus Peat to a pectoral injury after only 17 snaps. Peat is not practicing this week and Calvin Throckmorton is likely to get his reps. While the coaches like Throckmorton, James Hurst is also another utility option. While the Saints' offensive line still ranks high, 2nd overall, the substitute will be tested this week against Vita Vea and a dominating Tampa Bay defensive front seven.

San Francisco down 11

All Pro left tackle Trent Williams missed last week's loss against Indianapolis with ankle and elbow injuries. Williams is not practicing this week and in his place, Jaylon Moore (rookie from Western Michigan) will likely get his second career start. While it is tempting to keep Williams in the model, as he has a history of playing through injuries, he's getting to the point in his career where he has to prove he's healthy before he can be included in the ranks. Even without their best player, the 49ers' line ranks 13th prior to this week's home game against a dangerous Chicago defensive front.

Seattle down 4

Despite having an extra day prior to Monday Night Football, right guard Damien Lewis could not rehab his shoulder injury in time. Jamarco Jones took 100% of snaps in his place. With Lewis still not practicing, it looks like Jones will get another start, this time at home. In other news, right tackle Brandon Shell continues to miss practice with a nagging ankle injury, but he is included in the ranks. Assuming Shell plays, the Seahawks' offensive line checks in at 15th before hosting a vulnerable Jacksonville defensive front.

Baltimore down 12

Right tackle Patrick Mekari only made it through 27% of snaps last week before leaving with a high-ankle sprain. Although the team is currently on a bye week, the front office signed Cedric Ogbuehi, a replacement-level right tackle. The Ravens' tackle situation is growing dire, and fans are clamoring for some kind of trade before the deadline. With Mekari on the shelf for what looks like a multi-week injury, the Ravens' offensive line drops to 26th.

Carolina down 2

Right guard John Miller was carted off during the NY Giants game with a severe ankle injury. The team added him to IR. Dennis Daley is most likely to get his reps, although Brady Christensen could also factor into the lineup. Christensen played left tackle last week for Cameron Erving. Erving's neck injury was fine but he was added to Friday's injury report with an illness and did not fly to New York. Pat Elflein, who was designated for return two weeks ago, was not present at practice this week. He might be one more week away. The Panther's offensive line is sliding, 28th before facing an average Falcons' defensive front.

Teams on a Bye: BAL Ravens, LVR Raiders

OTHER NEWS

ARZ - C Max Garcia is questionable after playing 66 of 71 snaps on a calf injury. The team calls him a game-time decision prior to TNF against GBP. In his place, Sean Harlow would become the third center to start in Arizona this year, after Garcia and Rodney Hudson.

ATL - RT Jason Spriggs started for Kaleb McGary, who was a late add to the COVID list last week. McGary is back at practice and included in the ranks.

BUF - RT Spencer Brown is not practicing due to a back injury. Brown is included in the ranks, but should he miss time, the Bills' would likely get Cody Ford into the lineup against a porous Miami Dolphins' defensive front.

CHI - Rookie RT Larry Borom is returning this week, which is timely as Alex Bars and Lachavious Simmons split reps at RT last week while Elijah Wilkinson was added to the Covid list. Wilkinson is still on the list as of mid-week, so Borom could get the start against a tough San Francisco defensive front.

DAL - RT La'el Collins has returned to practice to find he's out of a job, at least for now. Collins is getting work with the 2's at left guard (a position he played back in 2015) and backup RT. Terrence Steele is the starter at RT, at least until he messes up. The team appears to be giving Collins time to work back into shape. In other-other news, LT Tyron Smith is limited in practice with an ankle injury, but he is included in the rankings.

DEN - LT Garett Bolles is limited in practice with a foot injury, but he is included in the rankings.

HOU - C Justin Britt is not practicing but still in ranks as he played 100% of snaps last week. Justin McCray and Max Sharping split reps at left guard.

IND - Marc Glowinski and Chris Reed are rotating at right guard. Braden Smith (foot and thumb) finally returned to practice in a limited. Smith has not played since Week 1 and is not included in the ranks this week.

JAX - RG Ben Bartch is practicing in full after spending some time in the league's concussion protocol.

LAR - LT Andrew Whitworth played 64 of 65 snaps last week but "banged up" against the Lions. He is officially questionable and his status is unknown this week. He is included in the ranks, but the team might give him a week off against the preseason level competition of the Houston Texans.

MIA - C Austin Reiter played 100% of snaps for Greg Mancz, who is still limited with a groin injury. The way Reiter played, it's his job to lose.

PIT - RT Zach Banner returned to practice and is listed as full participation. However, with Dan Moore and Chuk Okorafor playing well, Banner will not regain his starting position at this time.

PHI - In what was possibly a conditioning issue against Las Vegas, RT Lane Johnson played 84% of snaps, Andre Dillard the rest. Johnson is included in this week's ranks.

FULL RANKINGS