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 16:
Arizona Cardinals
Designated for return:
- CB Elijah Jones (Dec. 5)
- K Matt Prater (Dec. 18)
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)
- DT Ruke Orhorhoro (Week 14)
Activations remaining: 3
Baltimore Ravens
Eligible for activation:
- WR Deonte Harty (story)
Activated:
- RB Rasheen Ali (Week 7)
- CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (Week 8)
- CB Arthur Maulet (Week 8)
- DT Michael Pierce (Week 15)
- CB T.J. Tampa (Week 16)
Activations remaining: 4
Buffalo Bills
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
- RB Darrynton Evans (released Oct. 29)
Activated
- DT DeWayne Carter (Week 14)
- OL Tylan Grable (Week 16)
- LB Matt Milano (Week 13)
- DE Dawuane Smoot (Week 15)
- LB Baylon Spector (Week 15)
Activations remaining: 2
Carolina Panthers
Activated:
- RB Jonathon Brooks (Week 10)
- DT Jaden Crumedy (Week 10)
- S Sam Franklin (Week 8)
- S Jordan Fuller (Week 10)
- CB Dane Jackson (Week 7)
- S Nick Scott (Week 15)
- WR Adam Thielen (Week 11)
- TE Ian Thomas (Week 6)
Activations remaining: 0
Chicago Bears
Eligible for activation:
- S Jaquan Brisker (story)
- TE Stephen Carlson
- CB Jaylon Jones
- OL Bill Murray
- 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
- CB Tony Brown
- LB Tony Fields
- T James Hudson (likely out for season)
- LS Charley Hughlett
- LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (story)
Activated:
- LB Mohamoud Diabate (Week 6)
- G Michael Dunn (Week 6)
- DT Michael Hall (Week 15)
- CB Myles Harden (Week 15)
- DT Maurice Hurst (Week 6)
- G Wyatt Teller (Week 8)
- S Juan Thornhill (Week 7)
Activations remaining: 1
Dallas Cowboys
Designated for return:
- CB Amani Oruwariye (Dec. 4)
Eligible for activation:
- S Markquese Bell
- DE DeMarcus Lawrence (story)
Activated:
- CB DaRon Bland (Week 9)
- WR Brandin Cooks (Week 13)
- OL Chuma Edoga (Nov. 13)
- DE Marshawn Kneeland (Nov. 20)
Activations remaining: 4
Denver Broncos
Reverted to season-ending IR:
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:
- LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (Dec. 19)
Eligible for activation:
- ILB Alex Anzalone (story)
- ILB Derrick Barnes (could miss rest of season)
- DL John Cominsky (return unlikely)
- OLB Aidan Hutchinson (playoff comeback on table)
- CB Ennis Rakestraw (story)
Activated:
- DT Brodric Martin (Week 12)
- S Ifeatu Melifonwu (Week 11; Week 16)
- CB Emmanuel Moseley (Week 12)
Activations remaining: 4
Green Bay Packers
Designated for return:
- TE Luke Musgrave (Dec. 11)
Eligible for activation:
- RB MarShawn Lloyd (story)
- OL Jordan Morgan (story)
Activated:
- DT Jonathan Ford (Week 8)
- RB MarShawn Lloyd (Week 12; later placed on IR a second time)
Activations remaining: 6
Houston Texans
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
- WR Nico Collins (Week 10)
- G Kenyon Green (Week 16)
- LB Christian Harris (Week 15)
- DT Kurt Hinish (Week 7)
- DE Dylan Horton (Week 5)
- DE Jerry Hughes (Week 10)
- CB Jeff Okudah (Week 11)
Activations remaining: 1
Indianapolis Colts
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
- DE Samson Ebukam (story)
Designated for return:
Activated:
- DT DeForest Buckner (Week 8)
- LB Jaylon Carlies (Week 16)
- C Ryan Kelly (Week 16)
- DL Tyquan Lewis (Week 12)
- LB Cameron McGrone (Week 8)
Activations remaining: 2
Jacksonville Jaguars
Eligible for activation:
- OL Cooper Hughes
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
Eligible for activation:
- TE Jody Fortson
- WR Skyy Moore (story)
Activated:
- WR Marquise Brown (Week 16)
- K Harrison Butker (Week 15)
- RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Week 7)
- RB Isiah Pacheco (Week 13)
Activations remaining: 4
Las Vegas Raiders
Eligible for activation:
- LB Luke Masterson
- DL Christian Wilkins (story)
Activated:
- TE Michael Mayer (Week 11)
- QB Aidan O’Connell (Week 13)
- S Trey Taylor (Week 6)
Activations remaining: 5
Los Angeles Chargers
Eligible for activation:
- WR Brenden Rice
- CB Asante Samuel Jr. (story)
Activated:
- WR DJ Chark (Week 9)
- LB Junior Colson (Week 14)
- RB Gus Edwards (Week 10)
- TE Hayden Hurst (Week 16)
- CB Deane Leonard (Week 12)
- LB Nick Niemann (Week 6)
Activations remaining: 3
Los Angeles Rams
Reverted to season-ending IR:
- G KT Leveston (practice window expired Dec. 11)
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 from reserve/NFI list:
- LS Blake Ferguson (Dec. 4)
Eligible for activation from IR:
Activated:
- WR River Cracraft (Week 10)
- WR Grant DuBose (Week 15)
- QB Tyler Huntley (Week 13)
- S Patrick McMorris (Week 13)
- CB Cam Smith (Week 7)
- QB Tua Tagovailoa (Week 8)
Activations remaining: 2
Minnesota Vikings
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
- OLB Gabriel Murphy (waived Nov. 27)
Eligible for activation:
- DL Taki Taimani
Activated:
- LS Andrew DePaola (Week 14)
- TE Nick Muse (Week 12)
- K Will Reichard (Week 14)
- G Dalton Risner (Week 9)
Activations remaining: 3
New England Patriots
Designated for return:
- T Caedan Wallace (Dec. 9)
Eligible for activation:
- LB Curtis Jacobs
- LB Oshane Ximines
Activated:
- CB Alex Austin (Week 12)
- DL Christian Barmore (Week 11)
- S Marte Mapu (Week 5)
Activations remaining: 5
New Orleans Saints
Eligible for activation:
- WR Bub Means
- WR Chris Olave (story)
Activated:
- DB Will Harris (Week 10)
- C Shane Lemieux (Week 10)
- C Erik McCoy (Week 11)
- RB Kendre Miller (Week 6, Week 14)
- LB Nephi Sewell (Week 11)
Activations remaining: 2
New York Giants
Designated for return:
- LB Dyontae Johnson (Dec. 4)
- OL Austin Schlottmann (Dec. 11)
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
- LB Matthew Adams (Week 5)
- K Graham Gano (Week 10)
- OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (Week 12)
Activations remaining: 5
New York Jets
Designated for return from IR:
Eligible for activation:
- LB Zaire Barnes
- K Greg Zuerlein (story)
Activated:
- S Chuck Clark (Week 11)
- DT Leki Fotu (Week 6)
- WR Allen Lazard (Week 14)
- OL Xavier Newman-Johnson (Week 13)
- G Wes Schweitzer (Week 14)
- TE Kenny Yeboah (Week 9)
Activations remaining: 2
Philadelphia Eagles
Designated for return from IR (August 27):
- TE Albert Okwuegbunam (released Nov. 5)
Designated for return:
- WR Britain Covey (Nov. 20)
- DE Bryce Huff (Dec. 18)
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)
Eligible for activation:
- T Troy Fautanu (regular-season return not expected)
- C.J. Henderson (story)
- DL DeMarvin Leal
- DL Logan Lee
- WR Roman Wilson
Activated:
- DT Montravius Adams (Week 15)
- LB Tyler Matakevich (Week 10)
- OLB Jeremiah Moon (Week 5)
- WR Ben Skowronek (Week 10)
- DB Cory Trice (Week 14)
Activations remaining: 2
San Francisco 49ers
Reverted to season-ending IR:
- OL Jon Feliciano (story)
Eligible for activation:
- LB Tatum Bethune
- CB Darrell Luter
- P Mitch Wishnowsky (story)
Activated:
- DL Kalia Davis (Week 5)
- DE Yetur Gross-Matos (Week 11)
- S Talanoa Hufanga (Week 14)
- RB Christian McCaffrey (Week 10)
- WR Ricky Pearsall (Week 7)
Activations remaining: 3
Seattle Seahawks
Designated for return:
- CB K’Von Wallace (Dec. 11)
Eligible for activation:
- T George Fant (story)
- DL Cameron Young
Activated:
- CB Artie Burns (Week 15)
- T George Fant (Week 9; later placed on IR a second time)
- T Stone Forsythe (Week 16)
- S Rayshawn Jenkins (Week 12)
- OLB Uchenna Nwosu (Week 14)
- S Jerrick Reed II (Week 8)
Activations remaining: 2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Designated for return:
- WR Kameron Johnson (Dec. 12)
- LB Markees Watts (Nov. 27)
Eligible for activation:
- LB SirVocea Dennis (out for regular season)
- CB Bryce Hall (story)
Activated:
- DE Earnest Brown IV (Week 7)
- CB Jamel Dean (Week 12)
- LS Evan Deckers (Week 10)
- WR Rakim Jarrett (Week 8)
Activations remaining: 4
Tennessee Titans
Designated for return:
- WR Colton Dowell (Dec. 16)
- T Jaelyn Duncan (Dec. 4)
Eligible for activation:
- C Lloyd Cushenberry (story)
- CB L’Jarius Sneed (story)
Activated:
- CB Chidobe Awuzie (Week 14)
- LB Cedric Gray (Week 9)
Activations remaining: 6
Washington Commanders
Designated for return:
- DT Jonathan Allen (Dec. 18)
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
- WR Jamison Crowder (Week 15)
- DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste (Week 12)
- LB Jordan Magee (Week 8)
- QB Marcus Mariota (Week 5)
Activations remaining: 4
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