Upgrades

San Francisco up 19

Assuming everything goes well with the tackle injuries, this is a tenuous upgrade. Left tackle Trent Williams was limited at practice this week after missing four weeks with an ankle sprain. Williams has shown considerable toughness throughout his career, and signs point to him gutting through the injury for this week's game against Kansas City. At right tackle, Mike McGlinchey only made it through 22 snaps last week before injuring his calf. McGlinchey didn't practice this week, but coaches referred to the injury as a contusion, a condition offensive linemen often play through. Both he and Trent Williams are somewhat optimistically included in this week's model, and the group ranks 10th this week. Jaylon Moore would likely fill in if McGlinchey can't go, and the group would rank in the middle of the pack.

Indianapolis up 15

Ten days after a disastrous outing on Thursday Night Football Week 5, there's suddenly a rush of good news coming out of Indianapolis. Center Ryan Kelly played through his hip injury and relegated Danny Pinter to the bench. In addition, Matt Pryor and Braden Smith returned to their natural positions of right guard and right tackle, respectively, one week after swapping against Denver. Another boost arrived in the form of Dennis Kelly taking over for Bernard Raimann after the first quarter against Jacksonville. The coaches wasted no time listing Dennis Kelly as the first team left tackle on their Week 7 depth chart, and this group should be the lineup going forward. There are still rumblings that the coaches could bench Matt Pryor, but overall, the Colts' offensive line rises to 11th this week before facing Tennessee on the road.

Denver up 4

With starting left tackle Garret Bolles on injured reserve with a broken leg, the coaches started swing tackle Calvin Anderson against LA Chargers on Monday Night Football. Anderson only lasted 13 snaps before the coaches replaced him with Billy Turner. Turner is a veteran right tackle who missed the first five games rehabbing a knee injury, but despite not playing his natural position, he was a huge upgrade over Anderson and a stabilizing presence on the line overall. In other news, right guard Quinn Meinerz returned from his hamstring injury and played 100 percent of snaps, sending Graham Glasgow to the bench. These two changes add up to a modest upgrade for the Broncos' line. The group ranks 23rd before facing a tough New York Jets defensive front seven on short rest.

Las Vegas up 1

They didn't do anything during their bye week to improve their grade, but the news is still positive: the Raiders' offensive line is no longer ranked last in the league. Based on the outstanding rookie play of right guard Dylan Parham (third round, Memphis) and right tackle Thayer Munford (seventh round, Ohio State), what was once a weakness on the right side of the offense has turned into a strength, especially in run blocking. While no one will confuse this group for the Seven Blocks of Granite, the line has a decent matchup at home this week against a Houston group that can be vulnerable in the run game. The Raiders' offensive line grades 31st overall.

Downgrades

New Orleans down 8

Left guard Andrus Peat injured his pectoral last week in the close loss to Cincinnati and will likely miss multiple weeks. With Calvin Throckmorton nursing a hip injury last week, Lewis Kidd (undrafted, Montana State) saw his first game action in place of Peat. Calvin Throckmorton has far more experience replacing Peat and has been the player coaches are training to take that job long-term. While Throckmorton is officially questionable for Thursday Night Football against Arizona, there are some signs of optimism that Throckmorton will get the start over Kidd, even with short rest. Either way, it's a small downgrade without Peat, and the Saints' offensive line falls to eighth in the latest ranks.

Cleveland down 9

Right guard Wyatt Teller was forced from last week's loss against New England with a calf injury after playing only 15 snaps. Teller was seen wearing a walking boot this week, and his status for the divisional matchup in Baltimore is very much in doubt. Hjalte Froholdt replaced Teller in the game and will likely get his first career start this weekend. Froholdt is an interesting young player, originally drafted by New England out of Arkansas, but needless to say, there is a huge dropoff between Teller and just about anyone. In other news, James Hudson got 14 snaps in place of Jack Conklin last week. Conklin injured his ankle, left the game, then returned. Coaches believe Conklin will play this week, and despite his history of injuries, he's included in the model. The Browns' offensive line ranks 14th overall this week.

Arizona down 3

Left guard Justin Pugh injured his knee (ACL), and despite not being put on official injured reserve yet, most reports have him missing the rest of the season. Max Garcia replaced Pugh in the contest and will likely be the starter against New Orleans this week and for the rest of the year. With center Rodney Hudson still out with a knee injury, and Sean Harlow taking the snaps at center, the interior of the Cardinals' line is being deeply tested. The makeshift group falls to 27th this week before facing the Saints on Thursday Night.

Miami down 2

With Terron Armstead still not practicing with a toe injury, Greg Little moved to left tackle last week against Baltimore, leaving Brandon Shell to start at right tackle. Little has been decent as a right tackle replacement, but starting him at left tackle is probably asking too much of this player. Brandon Shell has provided below-replacement-level play since signing with the team. Usual right tackle Austin Jackson went down with an ankle injury in the season opener. While Jackson has been around practice the last two weeks, he's got a week left on the 21-day-window that the team has before they decide to activate him or move him to long-term reserve. Although Armstead and Jackson could get healthy in the next couple of days and make this prediction look dumb, currently, they are both held out of the model. Without their starting tackles, the Dolphins' line falls to 32nd overall before facing Pittsburgh at home.

Other News

BAL - Veteran RT Morgan Moses injured his heel and has been held out of practice this week. Patrick Mekari replaced Moses in the game, but the coaches called the move precautionary. Look for Moses to play this week against Cleveland.

BUF - RT Spencer Brown only made it 31 snaps last week against Kansas City before spraining his ankle. Brown has been seen wearing a walking boot, but the team has a bye week for him to recover. There's no current downgrade, but if David Quessenberry has to start next week, the Bills' line would likely fall out of the top 5.

CHI - There are rumblings that the team wants to move Lucas Patrick to center, bringing in Michael Schoefield at guard and benching Sam Mustipher. But until the coaches make this move, the model can't reflect it. If it occurs, the Bears line would rank a few spots higher, maybe 23rd overall.

GBP - RG Royce Newman was benched for Jake Hanson during last week's loss against the Jets. However, Hanson tore his biceps, and Newman had to re-enter the game. The beat writers have been making a huge fuss over the state of the Packers' line, and while the right guard spot is a problem, they have way more assets than most teams and options. They could move Elgton Jenkins to guard and start Yosh Nijman or Zach Tom at tackle. I stand behind their third overall rating. When offenses struggle, lines become a scapegoat.

LAC - The following players are all limited in practice: C Will Clapp (quadricep), C Corey Linsley (illness), and T Trey Pipkins (knee). The model assumes Linsley and Pipkins will start this week against Seattle.

LAR - LT Joe Noteboom ruptured his Achilles tendon last week and will miss the season. In the game, Aleric Jackson took over at left tackle and Oday Aboushi took Jackson's guard spot. The team signed Ty Nsekhe and are expected to get center Brian Allen back after their bye week.

NEP - Marcus Cannon and Isaiah Wynn splitting reps at RT. Wynn had another awful day, don't be surprised if Wynn is traded or benched soon.

NYJ - The team signed Mike Remmers as a swing tackle. Remmers will provide insurance for LT Duane Brown, who is playing through a rotator cuff injury that will likely linger all season.

PHI - RT Lane Johnson is in the league's concussion protocol after last week's game against Dallas. Jack Driscoll replaced Johnson during the game, but the team is on a bye week, giving Johnson time to heal.

PIT - C Mason Cole (foot, ankle) and G James Daniels (ankle) are both limited in practice. Cole missed two snaps last week against Tampa Bay, but both players are included in the model this week against Miami.

TEN - RG Nate Davis returned to practice after missing a week with a foot injury. Dillion Radunz got the start, but Davis is considered the starter this week.

WAS - RT Sam Cosmi has returned to practice in a limited fashion after having thumb surgery two weeks ago. It's not entirely clear that Cosmi will get the start this week against Green Bay, so he is held out of the model in favor of Cornelius Lucas. The Commanders rank 30th overall, but if Cosmi surprises everyone and returns, that ranking would be closer to 22nd.

Full Rankings