After a 2022 rule change, teams can activate up to eight players from injured reserve. That has reintroduced some strategy into how franchises proceed with their activations, and teams will again need to be cognizant of their activation counts in 2023.
The NFL had reintroduced IR-return options in the 2010s, after a period in which an IR move meant a player’s season was over. But the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the league to loosen restrictions on IR from 2020-21. Teams were permitted to use unlimited activations to start the decade, but roster math is again a consideration.
Players who land on IR after cutdown day must miss at least four games. Once a team designates a player for return, the activation clock starts. Clubs have 21 days from a player’s return-to-practice date to activate that player. If no activation commences in that window, the player reverts to season-ending IR.
Here is how the NFL’s IR situations look for Week 13:
Arizona Cardinals
Eligible for activation:
- DL L.J. Collier
- TE Zach Ertz (story)
- DL Carlos Watkins
- OL Elijah Wilkinson
Activations remaining: 5
Atlanta Falcons
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 8
Baltimore Ravens
Designated for return:
- CB Damarion Williams (Nov. 21)
Eligible for activation:
- LB Malik Hamm
- OLB David Ojabo (story)
- CB Ar’Darius Washington
Activations remaining: 5
Buffalo Bills
Eligible for activation:
- RB Damien Harris (story)
- DT DaQuan Jones; uncertain to return this season
- TE Dawson Knox (story)
- LB Matt Milano; uncertain to return this season
- WR Justin Shorter
Activations remaining: 7
Carolina Panthers
Designated for return:
- LB Claudin Cherelus
- S Jeremy Chinn (Nov. 22)
- OLB Yetur Gross-Matos (Nov. 23)
- CB Jaycee Horn (Nov. 13)
- OLB Justin Houston (story)
Eligible for activation:
- TE Giovanni Ricci (story)
- LB Shaq Thompson; ninth-year veteran not ruling out return from broken leg
Activations remaining: 6
Chicago Bears
Activations remaining: 0
Cincinnati Bengals
Eligible for activation: none
Activations remaining: 6
Cleveland Browns
Eligible for activation: none
Activations remaining: 6
Dallas Cowboys
Designated for return:
- TE Peyton Hendershot (Nov. 15)
Eligible for activation:
- CB C.J. Goodwin
- OL Matt Waletzko
Activations remaining: 7
Denver Broncos
Eligible for activation:
- TE Greg Dulcich (story)
- WR Brandon Johnson
- OL Alex Palczewski
- CB K’Waun Williams; unlikely to return this season
Activations remaining: 6
Detroit Lions
Eligible for activation:
- FB Jason Cabinda
- S C.J. Gardner-Johnson; DB aiming for late-season return
- DE James Houston (story)
- OL Matt Nelson; uncertain to return this season
Activations remaining: 5
Green Bay Packers
Designated for return:
- S Darnell Savage (Nov. 20)
- CB Eric Stokes (Nov. 27)
Eligible for activation:
- OL Luke Tenuta
Activations remaining: 8
Houston Texans
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 1
Indianapolis Colts
Eligible for activation:
- TE Jelani Woods
Activations remaining: 8
Jacksonville Jaguars
Eligible for activation:
- CB Christian Braswell
- OL Cooper Hodges
Activations remaining: 5
Kansas City Chiefs
Eligible for activation:
- LB Nick Bolton (story)
- OL Prince Tega Wanogho
Activations remaining: 7
Las Vegas Raiders
Eligible for activation:
- CB Brandon Facyson (story)
- LB Kana’i Mauga
Activations remaining: 6
Los Angeles Chargers
Eligible for activation: none
Activations remaining: 8
Los Angeles Rams
Eligible for activation:
- RB Ronnie Rivers (story)
Activations remaining: 2
Miami Dolphins
Eligible for activation:
- RB Chris Brooks
- OL Isaiah Wynn; uncertain to return this season
Activations remaining: 2
Minnesota Vikings
Activated:
- WR Justin Jefferson (story)
Eligible for activation:
- OLB Marcus Davenport; late-season return in play
Activations remaining: 4
New England Patriots
Designated for return:
- T Riley Reiff (Nov. 15)
Eligible for activation:
- DL Daniel Ekuale
- OLB Matt Judon; uncertain to return this season
- OL Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
Activations remaining: 5
New Orleans Saints
Eligible for activation:
- DE Payton Turner (story)
Activations remaining: 6
New York Giants
Eligible for activation:
- RB Gary Brightwell
- OL Joshua Ezeudu
- K Graham Gano (story)
- T Matt Peart
- QB Tyrod Taylor (story)
- TE Darren Waller (story)
Activations remaining: 6
New York Jets
Designated for return:
- TE Kenny Yeboah (Nov. 15)
Eligible for activation:
- CB Justin Hardee
- C Connor McGovern (story)
- QB Aaron Rodgers; still eyeing in-season return from Achilles injury
- OL Wes Schweitzer (story)
Activations remaining: 6
Philadelphia Eagles
Designated for return:
- S Justin Evans (Nov. 13)
Eligible for activation:
- CB Avonte Maddox; uncertain to return after torn pec
Activations remaining: 5
Pittsburgh Steelers
Eligible for activation: none
Activations remaining: 4
San Francisco 49ers
Activated:
- DE Robert Beal
Eligible for activation:
- WR Danny Gray
Activations remaining: 6
Seattle Seahawks
Designated for return:
- DB Coby Bryant (Nov. 20)
- RT Abraham Lucas (Nov. 15)
Activations remaining: 6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Eligible for activation: none
Activations remaining: 7
Tennessee Titans
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 6
Washington Commanders
Eligible for activation:
- OL Saahdiq Charles
- S Darrick Forrest (story)
- WR Dax Milne
Activations remaining: 5
week 5 becoming more relevant now with this implementation
I like it too but isn’t there a way this could be formatted into two columns so we don’t wear out the scroll bar…lol
Until he is reactivated by the New England Patriots, Jack Jones will be singing the National Anthem at home games along with the “Love Boat” theme !!
Tenutaaaa!
Missed one for Atlanta, though I doubt we will ever see him activated.
A head coach who will actually call plays that his entire team is built for .. power run, power run, power run, and more power runs, all with minimal subs to make the defense tire. Falcons did that for one drive last week and the Vikes defense was absolutely gassed and ended up with a touchdown.
Instead, they are pass(short yardage), gimmick run(for a loss), pass on third and long(sack). Rinse and repeat in various order. It’s sickening as a fan. No one would mind them failing at the running game every now and then if they would just FOCUS on it. Instead they just give in to stupid play calls.
Sorry, no other Falcons posts to rant on.