This offseason brought a change in how teams could construct their 53-man rosters while retaining flexibility with injured players. Clubs were permitted to attach return designations to two players (in total) placed on IR or an NFI list before setting their initial rosters.
In prior years, anyone placed on IR before a team set its initial 53-man roster could not be activated in-season. All August 27 IR- or NFI-return designations, however, already count against teams’ regular-season limit of eight. This introduces more strategy for teams, who will be tasked with determining which players injured in-season will factor into activation puzzles as the year progresses.
All players designated for return on August 27 are eligible to be activated beginning in Week 5, though any player placed on IR after a team set its initial 53 has not been designated for return and therefore does not yet count toward a club’s eight-activation limit. Players who receive return designations after Week 5 also appear on this list.
Here is how teams’ activation puzzles look going into Week 12:
Arizona Cardinals
Eligible for activation:
- CB Elijah Jones
- K Matt Prater (story)
Activated:
- OL Christian Jones (Week 8)
- DL Darius Robinson (Week 9)
- RT Jonah Williams (Week 12)
Activations remaining: 5
Atlanta Falcons
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
- OLB Lorenzo Carter (Week 11)
- C Drew Dalman (Week 11)
- LB Nathan Landman (Week 6)
Activations remaining: 4
Baltimore Ravens
Eligible for activation:
- WR Deonte Harty (story)
- CB T.J. Tampa
Activated:
- RB Rasheen Ali (Week 7)
- CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (Week 8)
- CB Arthur Maulet (Week 8)
Activations remaining: 5
Buffalo Bills
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
- RB Darrynton Evans (released Oct. 29)
- LB Matt Milano (practice window opened Nov. 11)
Eligible for activation:
- OL Tylan Grable
Activations remaining: 6
Carolina Panthers
Designated for return:
- DT Jaden Crumedy (Nov. 6)
- S Jordan Fuller (Oct. 23)
Activated:
- RB Jonathon Brooks (Week 10)
- S Sam Franklin (Week 8)
- CB Dane Jackson (Week 7)
- WR Adam Thielen (Week 11)
- TE Ian Thomas (Week 6)
Activations remaining: 3
Chicago Bears
Eligible for activation:
- TE Stephen Carlson
- LS Patrick Scales (story)
Activated:
- OL Ryan Bates (Week 10)
- OL Larry Borom (Week 9)
- RB Travis Homer (Week 8)
- DE Jacob Martin (Week 8)
Activations remaining: 4
Cincinnati Bengals
Activated:
- DT McKinnley Jackson (Week 5)
- DE Myles Murphy (Week 5)
- P Brad Robbins (Week 5)
Activations remaining: 5
Cleveland Browns
Reverted to season-ending IR:
- RB Nyheim Hines (story)
Eligible for activation:
- WR David Bell
- LB Tony Fields
- CB Myles Harden
- T James Hudson (likely out for season)
- LS Charley Hughlett
Activated:
- LB Mohamoud Diabate (Week 6)
- G Michael Dunn (Week 6)
- DT Maurice Hurst (Week 6)
- G Wyatt Teller (Week 8)
- S Juan Thornhill (Week 7)
Activations remaining: 2
Dallas Cowboys
Designated for return:
- WR Brandin Cooks (Nov. 20)
- OL Chuma Edoga (Nov. 13)
- DE Marshawn Kneeland (Nov. 20)
Eligible for activation:
- DE DeMarcus Lawrence (story)
Activated:
- CB DaRon Bland (Week 9)
Activations remaining: 7
Denver Broncos
Reverted to season-ending IR:
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
- RB Tyler Badie (story)
Activated:
- OLB Baron Browning (Week 7)
- RB Audric Estime (Week 6)
- CB Damarri Mathis (Week 7)
- T Mike McGlinchey (Week 7)
- C Luke Wattenberg (Week 10)
Activations remaining: 3
Detroit Lions
Designated for return:
- CB Emmanuel Moseley (Nov. 6)
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
- DT Brodric Martin (Week 12)
- S Ifeatu Melifonwu (Week 11; later placed on IR a second time)
Activations remaining: 6
Green Bay Packers
Eligible for activation:
- TE Luke Musgrave (story)
Activated:
- DT Jonathan Ford (Week 8)
- RB MarShawn Lloyd (Week 12)
Activations remaining: 6
Houston Texans
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
- WR Nico Collins (Week 10)
- DT Kurt Hinish (Week 7)
- DE Dylan Horton (Week 5)
- DE Jerry Hughes (Week 10)
- CB Jeff Okudah (Week 11)
Activations remaining: 2
Indianapolis Colts
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
- DE Samson Ebukam (story)
Designated for return:
- DL Tyquan Lewis (Nov. 20)
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
- DT DeForest Buckner (Week 8)
- LB Cameron McGrone (Week 8)
Activations remaining: 5
Jacksonville Jaguars
Activated:
- CB Tyson Campbell (Week 7)
- WR Devin Duvernay (Week 10)
- LB Foye Oluokun (Week 8)
- RB Keilan Robinson (Week 12)
- S Andrew Wingard (Week 10)
Activations remaining: 3
Kansas City Chiefs
Designated for return:
- RB Isiah Pacheco (Nov. 12)
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
Activations remaining: 7
Las Vegas Raiders
Eligible for activation from IR:
- LB Luke Masterson
- DL Christian Wilkins (story)
Activated:
- TE Michael Mayer (Week 11)
- S Trey Taylor (Week 6)
Activations remaining: 6
Los Angeles Chargers
Designated for return from IR:
- CB Deane Leonard (Nov. 13)
Eligible for activation:
- CB Asante Samuel Jr. (story)
Activated:
- WR DJ Chark (Week 9)
- RB Gus Edwards (Week 10)
- LB Nick Niemann (Week 6)
Activations remaining: 5
Los Angeles Rams
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
- OL K.T. Leveston (practice window opened Nov. 20)
Eligible for activation:
- S John Johnson (story)
- OL Conor McDermott
- DL Larrell Murchison
- LB Troy Reeder
Activated:
- OL Steve Avila (Week 10)
- OL Jonah Jackson (Week 10)
- DL Larrell Murchison (Week 5; later placed on IR a second time)
- WR Puka Nacua (Week 8)
- OL Joe Noteboom (Week 10)
- CB Darious Williams (Week 5)
Activations remaining: 1
Miami Dolphins
Designated for return:
- S Patrick McMorris (Nov. 7)
Eligible for activation from IR:
- WR Grant Dubose
- QB Tyler Huntley (story)
Eligible for activation from reserve/NFI list:
Activated:
- WR River Cracraft (Week 10)
- CB Cam Smith (Week 7)
- QB Tua Tagovailoa (Week 8)
Activations remaining: 5
Minnesota Vikings
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
- OLB Gabriel Murphy (practice window opened Nov. 6)
Designated for return:
- TE Nick Muse (Nov. 20)
Activated:
- G Dalton Risner (Week 9)
Activations remaining: 6
New England Patriots
Eligible for activation:
- T Caedan Wallace (story)
- OLB Oshane Ximines
Activated:
- CB Alex Austin (Week 12)
- DL Christian Barmore (Week 11)
- S Marte Mapu (Week 5)
Activations remaining: 5
New Orleans Saints
Activated:
- DB Will Harris (Week 10)
- C Shane Lemieux (Week 10)
- C Erik McCoy (Week 11)
- RB Kendre Miller (Week 6; placed back on IR)
- LB Nephi Sewell (Week 11)
Activations remaining: 3
New York Giants
Designated for return:
- OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (Nov. 20)
Eligible for activation:
- LB Dyontae Johnson
- WR Gunner Olszewski
- OL Austin Schlottmann
Activated:
- LB Matthew Adams (Week 5)
- K Graham Gano (Week 10)
Activations remaining: 6
New York Jets
Eligible for activation:
- LB Zaire Barnes
- G Wes Schweitzer (story)
Activated:
- S Chuck Clark (Week 11)
- DT Leki Fotu (Week 6)
- TE Kenny Yeboah (Week 9)
Activations remaining: 5
Philadelphia Eagles
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
- TE Albert Okwuegbunam (released on Nov. 5)
Designated for return:
- WR Britain Covey (Nov. 20)
Eligible for activation:
- DT Byron Young
Activated:
- LT Jordan Mailata (Week 11)
- WR Ainias Smith (Week 8)
Activations remaining: 5
Pittsburgh Steelers
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
- OL Dylan Cook (released Oct. 31)
Designated for return:
- DB Cory Trice (Nov. 14)
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
- LB Tyler Matakevich (Week 10)
- OLB Jeremiah Moon (Week 5)
- WR Ben Skowronek (Week 10)
Activations remaining: 4
San Francisco 49ers
Designated for return:
- OL Jon Feliciano (Nov. 4)
Eligible for activation:
- S Talanoa Hufanga (story)
- CB Ambry Thomas
Activated:
- DL Kalia Davis (Week 5)
- DE Yetur Gross-Matos (Week 11)
- RB Christian McCaffrey (Week 10)
- WR Ricky Pearsall (Week 7)
Activations remaining: 4
Seattle Seahawks
Eligible for activation:
- CB Artie Burns
- S Rayshawn Jenkins (story)
- OLB Uchenna Nwosu (story)
Activated:
- T George Fant (Week 9; later placed on IR a second time)
- S Jerrick Reed II (Week 8)
Activations remaining: 6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Eligible for activation:
- LB SirVocea Dennis (out for regular season)
- CB Bryce Hall (story)
- WR Kameron Johnson
- LB Markees Watts
Designated for return:
- CB Jamel Dean (Nov. 18)
Activated:
- DE Earnest Brown IV (Week 7)
- LS Evan Deckers (Week 10)
- WR Rakim Jarrett (Week 8)
Activations remaining: 5
Tennessee Titans
Eligible for activation:
- CB Chidobe Awuzie (story)
- WR Treylon Burks (story)
- T Jaelyn Duncan
Activated:
- LB Cedric Gray (Week 9)
Activations remaining: 7
Washington Commanders
Designated for return:
- DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste (Nov. 20)
Eligible for activation:
- WR Jamison Crowder (story)
Activated:
- LB Jordan Magee (Week 8)
- QB Marcus Mariota (Week 5)
Activations remaining: 6
Im still not understanding Daryton Evans on IR.
This was at best a practice squad RB, we already have 3 rbs, PLUS a fullback on the roster.
Ive heard speculation he could be a returner. That makes less sense when you consider how thin WR is.
But then why the trade for Codrington?
Idk. Im just a dumb old guy.
Unless you’re a fugitive from the law, you can never have too many trackers 🙂
I hate to complain about the trackers that are provided by the staff but the formatting is not good. Eligibles could be in one column, activateds in another. Perhaps that won’t work for the app users but this is an unnecessarily long scroll for those using laptops.
steelers looking good, 2-0 to start their rough schedule ahead