After two years of giving teams free rein on injured reserve transactions, the NFL reinstated limitations this offseason. Teams can now activate up to eight players from their IR, PUP and NFI lists combined. That will reintroduce some strategy into how franchises proceed with their activations over the next few months.
This week marks the first window to activate players stationed on these respective lists. Once a team designates a player for return, meaning the player returns to practice, the activation clock starts. Teams have 21 days from those return-to-practice points to activate that player. If no activation commences in that window, the player reverts to season-ending IR.
Here is how teams’ IR, PUP and NFI situations look for Week 5:
Arizona Cardinals
Designated for return:
- CB Antonio Hamilton
- QB Colt McCoy
- WR Antoine Wesley
Also eligible for activation:
Atlanta Falcons
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
- DL Marlon Davidson
- TE John FitzPatrick
- LB Deion Jones
- OL Jalen Mayfield
Baltimore Ravens
Designated for return:
- RB Gus Edwards
Eligible for activation:
- OLB Tyus Bowser (PUP)
- TE Charlie Kolar
- OLB David Ojabo
Buffalo Bills
Eligible for activation:
- OL Ike Boettger (PUP)
- CB Tre’Davious White (PUP)
Carolina Panthers
Eligible for activation:
- QB Sam Darnold
Chicago Bears
Designated for return:
- WR N’Keal Harry
Cincinnati Bengals
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
- S Tycen Anderson
- LB Joe Bachie (PUP)
- CB Brandon Wilson (PUP)
Cleveland Browns
Designated for return:
Dallas Cowboys
Designated for return:
- LB Damone Clark
Eligible for activation:
Denver Broncos
Eligible for activation:
- OL Tom Compton (PUP)
- TE Greg Dulcich
- CB Michael Ojemudia
Detroit Lions
Designated for return:
- CB Jerry Jacobs
- DE Josh Paschal
Eligible for activation:
- LB Jason Cabinda (PUP)
- DE Romeo Okwara (PUP)
- WR Jameson Williams (NFI)
Green Bay Packers
Eligible for activation:
- RB Kylin Hill (PUP)
Houston Texans
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
Indianapolis Colts
Eligible for activation:
Jacksonville Jaguars
Eligible for activation: No players on short-term IR
Kansas City Chiefs
Eligible for activation:
- TE Blake Bell
- T Lucas Niang (PUP)
Las Vegas Raiders
Eligible for activation: No players eligible for Week 5 activation
Los Angeles Chargers
Eligible for activation:
- TE Stone Smartt (NFI)
Los Angeles Rams
Eligible for activation:
- OLB Daniel Hardy
- LB Travin Howard (NFI)
- S Quentin Lake (PUP)
Miami Dolphins
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
- CB Byron Jones (PUP)
Minnesota Vikings
Designated for return:
- WR Blake Proehl
New England Patriots
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
New Orleans Saints
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
- DT Albert Huggins
- T Trevor Penning
New York Giants
Designated for return:
- OL Nick Gates
Eligible for activation:
- G Shane Lemieux
- T Matt Peart (PUP)
- OLB Elerson Smith
- CB Rodarius Williams
New York Jets
Designated for return:
- T Duane Brown
- DE Vinny Curry
Eligible for activation:
- FB Nick Bawden
Philadelphia Eagles
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
- TE Tyree Jackson (PUP)
- OL Brett Toth (PUP)
Pittsburgh Steelers
Designated for return:
San Francisco 49ers
Designated for return:
- CB Jason Verrett
- S Jimmie Ward
Eligible for activation:
- DT Kalia Davis
- LB Curtis Robinson
Seattle Seahawks
Designated for return:
- OLB L.J. Collier
Eligible for activation:
- CB Tre Brown
- CB John Reid
- LB Jon Rhattigan
- LB Tyreke Smith
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Eligible for activation:
- C Ryan Jensen; Jensen is not expected to be ready to return until at least January
Tennessee Titans
Designated for return:
- LB Monty Rice
Eligible for activation:
- WR Racey McMath
- K Caleb Shudak (PUP)
Washington Commanders
Designated for return:
- OL Tyler Larsen
- RB Brian Robinson
Eligible for activation:
- OL Willie Beavers
- TE Curtis Hodges
- DE Chase Young (PUP)