The 2024 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 26 IR- or NFI-return designations, however, already count against teams’ regular-season limit of eight. Teams 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 26 became 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. Playoff teams will receive two additional injury activations once the postseason begins.
Here is how the 32 teams’ activation puzzles look for Week 18:
Arizona Cardinals
Reverted to season-ending IR:
Eligible for activation:
- S Joey Blount
- WR Greg Dortch
- WR Simi Fehoko
- P Blake Gillikin (story)
- G Will Hernandez (story)
- DL Justin Jones (story)
- QB Kyler Murray (return not expected)
- LB Mack Wilson (story)
Activated:
- CB Garrett Williams (Week 9)
- G Hayden Conner (Week 13)
- T Christian Jones (Week 15)
- DL L.J. Collier (Week 17)
Activations remaining: 4
Atlanta Falcons
Reverted to season-ending IR:
Designated for return:
- CB Clark Phillips (12/24)
- DL Sam Roberts (12/26)
Eligible for activation:
- DL Zach Harrison
- S DeMarcco Hellams
- OLB DeAngelo Malone (story)
- OLB Bralen Trice (story)
Activated:
- DL Ta’Quon Graham (Week 7)
- S Jordan Fuller (Week 8)
- LB Divine Deablo (Week 12)
Activations remaining: 4
Baltimore Ravens
Designated for return (Aug. 26):
- OLB Adisa Isaac
- WR Dayton Wade
Eligible for activation:
- DL Taven Bryan (story)
- RB Justice Hill (story)
- DL Broderick Washington (story)
Activated:
- OLB Tavius Robinson (Week 15)
- LB Jay Higgins (Week 17)
Activations remaining: 4
Buffalo Bills
Eligible for activation:
- S Damar Hamlin (story)
- DT Ed Oliver (playoff return in play)
- S Taylor Rapp (unlikely to return this season)
- WR Curtis Samuel (story)
- CB Dorian Strong (story)
Activated:
- CB Maxwell Hairston (Week 8)
- DT T.J. Sanders (Week 11)
- OL Tylan Grable (Week 13)
- WR Mecole Hardman (Week 16)
Activations remaining: 4
Carolina Panthers
Designated for return:
- WR David Moore (12/17)
- G Robert Hunt (12/24)
Eligible for activation:
- G Chandler Zavala (story)
Activated:
- DE LaBryan Ray (Week 5)
- WR Jalen Coker (Week 7)
- C Austin Corbett (Week 7)
- G Chandler Zavala (Week 9)
Activations remaining: 4
Chicago Bears
Eligible for activation:
- T Kiran Amegadjie
- RB Roschon Johnson
- T Braxton Jones (story)
Activated:
- RB Travis Homer (Week 7)
- DE Austin Booker (Week 9)
- LB Amen Ogbongbemiga (Week 10)
- CB Kyler Gordon (Week 13)
- CB Jaylon Johnson (Week 13)
- LB Tremaine Edmunds (Week 16)
- OL Luke Newman (Week 17)
Activations remaining: 1
Cincinnati Bengals
Designated for return:
- C Matt Lee (12/24)
Eligible for activation:
- LB Brian Asamoah
- CB Marco Wilson
Activated:
- G Lucas Patrick (Week 7)
- DE Cedric Johnson (Week 9)
- TE Mike Gesicki (Week 12)
- S Daijahn Anthony (Week 13)
- QB Joe Burrow (Week 13)
- LB Shaka Heyward (Week 15)
- DE Shemar Stewart (Week 16)
Activations remaining: 1
Cleveland Browns
Designated for return (Aug. 26):
- LB Winston Reid
Eligible for activation:
- WR DeAndre Carter (story)
Activated:
Activations remaining: 6
Dallas Cowboys
Designated for return (Aug. 26):
Designated for return:
- RB Phil Mafah (12/17)
Eligible for activation:
- OL Ajani Cornelius
- OL Trevor Keegan (story)
- LB Jack Sanborn (story)
- S Juanyeh Thomas
Activated:
- CB Caelen Carson (Week 7)
- WR Jonathan Mingo (Week 8)
- C Cooper Beebe (Week 9)
- S Malik Hooker (Week 11)
- DT Perrion Winfrey (Week 12)
- CB Trevon Diggs (Week 16)
Activations remaining: 1
Denver Broncos
Designated for return (Aug. 26):
- LB Drew Sanders
Eligible for activation:
- RB J.K. Dobbins (playoff return in play)
- TE Lucas Krull (story)
- OL Matt Peart (story)
- LB Karene Reid
Activated:
- DL Malcolm Roach (Week 6)
- LB Dre Greenlaw (Week 7)
- LB Garret Wallow (Week 11)
- G Ben Powers (Week 16)
Activations remaining: 3
Detroit Lions
Designated for return:
- OL Giovanni Manu (12/17)
Eligible for activation:
- LB Zach Cunningham
- OL Jamarco Jones
- TE Sam LaPorta (return unlikely)
- TE Brock Wright (story)
Activated:
- S Daniel Thomas (Week 10)
- CB Khalil Dorsey (Week 12)
- CB D.J. Reed (Week 12)
- OLB Marcus Davenport (Week 13)
- TE Shane Zylstra (Week 15)
- G Christian Mahogany (Week 16)
Activations remaining: 2
Green Bay Packers
Eligible for activation:
- LB Nick Niemann
Activated:
- OL Jacob Monk (Week 7)
- WR Jayden Reed (Week 14)
- RB MarShawn Lloyd (Week 16)
- DL Brenton Cox (Week 16)
Activations remaining: 4
Houston Texans
Designated for return:
- CB Ajani Carter (12/23)
- WR Justin Watson (12/10)
Eligible for activation:
- DT Folorunso Fatukasi (story)
- S Jaylen Reed (story)
- CB Jaylin Smith (story)
- OLB Darrell Taylor (story)
Activated:
- S Jaylen Reed (Week 7)
- CB Jaylin Smith (Week 8)
- FB Jakob Johnson (Week 11)
- TE Cade Stover (Week 11)
- TE Harrison Bryant (Week 15)
Activations remaining: 3
Indianapolis Colts
Designated for return:
- QB Anthony Richardson (12/18)
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
- CB Jaylon Jones (Week 9)
- CB Charvarius Ward (Week 12)
- LB Jaylon Carlies (Week 14)
- DT DeForest Buckner (Week 16)
- WR Ashton Dulin (Week 17)
Activations remaining: 3
Jacksonville Jaguars
Designated for return (Aug. 26):
- LB Jalen McLeod (practice window opened 12/16)
Activated:
- TE Brenton Strange (Week 12)
- S Eric Murray (Week 14)
Activations remaining: 5
Kansas City Chiefs
Designated for return (Aug. 26):
- TE Jake Briningstool (practice window opened 12/17)
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
- CB Nazeeh Johnson (Week 17)
Activations remaining: 6
Las Vegas Raiders
Designated for return:
- LT Kolton Miller (12/10)
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
- S Lonnie Johnson Jr. (Week 10)
- QB Aidan O’Connell (Week 12)
Activations remaining: 6
Los Angeles Chargers
Eligible for activation in wild-card round:
- TE Tucker Fisk (story)
Activated:
- OLB Khalil Mack (Week 7)
- ILB Denzel Perryman (Week 7)
- DT Da’Shawn Hand (Week 10)
- LS Josh Harris (Week 10)
- DB Deane Leonard (Week 10)
- RB Omarion Hampton (Week 14)
- RB Hassan Haskins (Week 14)
- DL Otito Ogbonnia (Week 14)
Activations remaining: 0
Los Angeles Rams
Designated for return:
- CB Roger McCreary (12/24)
Eligible for activation:
- RT Rob Havenstein (story)
- TE Tyler Higbee (story)
- S Quentin Lake (story)
Activated:
- CB Ahkello Witherspoon (Week 13)
- WR Tutu Atwell (Week 15)
Activations remaining: 6
Miami Dolphins
Designated for return (Aug. 26):
- K Jason Sanders (story)
Eligible for activation:
- S Jordan Colbert
- G James Daniels (story)
Activated:
- CB Jason Marshall (Week 9)
- RT Austin Jackson (Week 13)
- TE Darren Waller (Week 13)
- OL Andrew Meyer (Week 17)
Activations remaining: 3
Minnesota Vikings
Eligible for activation:
- CB Jeff Okudah
Activated:
- FB C.J. Ham (Week 5)
- OLB Tyler Batty (Week 7)
- LB Blake Cashman (Week 7)
- RB Aaron Jones (Week 8)
- C Ryan Kelly (Week 12)
- RB Ty Chandler (Week 17)
Activations remaining: 2
New England Patriots
Designated for return:
- DT Milton Williams (12/24)
Eligible for activation:
- CB Alex Austin
- LT Will Campbell (story)
Activated:
- LB Jahlani Tavai (Week 5)
Activations remaining: 7
New Orleans Saints
Eligible for activation:
- S Julian Blackmon (story)
- DT Vernon Broughton
- WR Trey Palmer (story)
Activated:
- DL John Ridgeway (Week 8)
- T Barry Wesley (Week 10)
Activations remaining: 6
New York Giants
Designated for return (Aug. 26):
- OL Joshua Ezeudu (practice window opened 12/10)
Designated for return:
- WR Beaux Collins (12/10)
- G Evan Neal (12/16)
Eligible for activation:
- LB Chris Board
- TE Thomas Fidone
- K Graham Gano (story)
- LB Micah McFadden (story)
Activated:
- K Graham Gano (Week 8)
- CB Rico Payton (Week 9)
- LB Darius Muasau (Week 15)
- CB Art Green (Week 16)
Activations remaining: 3
New York Jets
Eligible for activation:
- RB Braelon Allen (story)
- CB Jarvis Brownlee
- LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
- WR Josh Reynolds (story)
Activated:
- LB Ja’Markis Weston (Week 7)
- LB Quincy Williams (Week 8)
- LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball (Week 12)
- LB Cam Jones (Week 15)
Activations remaining: 4
Philadelphia Eagles
Reverted to season-ending IR:
- T Myles Hinton (practice window closed 12/10)
- G Willie Lampkin (practice window closed 11/27)
Eligible for activation:
- OLB Azeez Ojulari (story)
- T Cameron Williams
Activated:
- WR Darius Cooper (Week 8)
- OLB Nolan Smith (Week 10)
- CB Jakorian Bennett (Week 11)
- S Marcus Epps (Week 14)
- LS Charley Hughlett (Week 15)
Activations remaining: 2
Pittsburgh Steelers
Reverted to season-ending IR:
- CB Donte Kent (practice window closed 12/24)
- DB Cory Trice (practice window closed 11/19)
Eligible for activation:
- S DeShon Elliott (story)
- QB Skylar Thompson
Activated:
- LB Malik Harrison (Week 9)
- QB Will Howard (Week 11)
Activations remaining: 5
San Francisco 49ers
Eligible for activation:
- WR Jacob Cowing (story)
Activated:
- DL Kevin Givens (Week 7)
- TE George Kittle (Week 7)
- OL Spencer Burford (Week 8)
- G Ben Bartch (Week 10)
- DE Yetur Gross-Matos (Week 16)
Activations remaining: 3
Seattle Seahawks
Eligible for activation:
- RB George Holani
- WR Tory Horton (story)
- LB Chazz Surratt
Activated:
- FB Robbie Ouzts (Week 9)
- G Christian Haynes (Week 11)
- S Julian Love (Week 14)
- DT Jarran Reed (Week 14)
- TE Eric Saubert (Week 15)
- C Jalen Sundell (Week 15)
- WR Dareke Young (Week 15)
Activations remaining: 1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Designated for return:
- DL Calijah Kancey (12/24)
Eligible for activation:
- TE Ko Kieft
Activated:
- RT Luke Goedeke (Week 10)
- WR Mike Evans (Week 15)
- WR Jalen McMillan (Week 15)
- S Rashad Wisdom (Week 16)
Activations remaining: 4
Tennessee Titans
Designated for return:
- LB Ali Gaye (12/17)
- OLB Oluwafemi Oladejo (12/17)
- WR Bryce Oliver (12/17)
Eligible for activation:
- OL Blake Hance
- CB L’Jarius Sneed (story)
Activated:
- RB Tyjae Spears (Week 5)
- DT T’Vondre Sweat (Week 7)
- S Mike Brown (Week 11)
- RB Kalel Mullings (Week 12)
Activations remaining: 4
Washington Commanders
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
- CB Jonathan Jones (Week 7)
- S Will Harris (Week 13)
- DE Drake Jackson (Week 14)
- WR Noah Brown (Week 14)
Activations remaining: 4
So if the Bears activate Booker how do they only have 6 left? You get 8. That would be one. 8-1=7 right? They haven’t had time to do another one. Not to mention I hope they don’t activate the other 2 and just release them and sign them back if they must. There’s no rule that says they have to bring them back is there?
I appreciate the trackers but the single column formatting makes for a very long website scroll. Double columns would be better but I suppose that would interfere with ad space and perhaps not function well on the mobile app.
Not a good season to be named some variation of Jaylon
Jaylen Brown’s dad was arrested for allegedly stabbing a man 25 times during a parking lot dispute over a door ding.