UPGRADES
Kansas City up 9 slots
In Week Two, left tackle Eric Fisher tore his groin and the injury required what the coaches described as "core muscle surgery." At the time, a table of 4-6 weeks rehab was set. This Wednesday, in preparation for Week Eight, Fisher returned to practice in a limited fashion. This might be jumping the gun but as Fisher has a history of playing hurt, he been included in the ranks for this weekend's match-up at Green Bay. Fisher's return would free up Cam Erving (who has been vulnerable at left tackle). With left guard Andrew Wylie is out with an ankle injury and Martinas Rankin shaky in his place, Erving could be an option at left guard, as could Stefan Wisniewski. Assuming Fisher's return to the lineup, and some kind of improvement at left guard, the Chiefs' line again grade out as a top-tier option.
Carolina up 8 slots
Given the bye week to recover, right guard Trai Turner practiced in full on Wednesday. Turner has missed over a month with an ankle sprain but seems ready rejoin his teammates as they prepare to face a stout San Francisco defensive front seven. The team needs Turner as both his recent replacements in Dennis Daley (groin) and Greg Little (concussion) are unlikely to be available. Turner in the lineup represents a straight-forward upgrade. The Panthers' offensive line has graded as an average unit the last few weeks but the group rises to the top-tier pending Turner's return.
San Francisco up 13 slots
Left tackle Joe Staley suffered a broken leg (fractured fibula) in Week Two and some thought his season could be over. However, Staley was given a 6-8 week timetable for rehab and it must have gone well as Staley was listed as a limited practice participant on Wednesday. While limited participants do often miss games, a return for Staley after 6 weeks is realistic The coaches are saying Staley has an "outside chance" to play but the rankings assume he will return in time for this weekend's contest against Carolina. This upgrade might be a week early but whenever Staley returns, it would free up Justin Skule to go back to the right side, where Mike McGlinchey is still out with a knee injury. In this scenario, Daniel Brunskill would be the swing tackle again. Both Skule and Brunskill have done well in the replacement of the starters and Skule might actually have proven himself Staley's long term replacement. The San Francisco 49ers' offensive line is returning to health and grade as a solid mid-tier line with Staley in the lineup.
Denver up 2 slots
Right tackle Ja'Wuan James practiced in full and is likely to play this weekend at Indianapolis, sending Elijah Wilkinson to the bench. Wilkinson had held up well in replacement until last week when the Kansas City pass rush abused both tackles (on the left side, Garret Bolles returned to his holding penalty habits). James has been out of action for a while and might be rusty, as he suffered his injury back in Week One. Still, his return represents a slight improvement to the Broncos' mid-tier grade.
Arizona up 3 slots
The Cardinals' offensive line is the benefit of a scheduled cohesion upgrade as all five players have played together for at least a month. Looking around the league, this is often easier said than done. While the timely play-calling and unique design of new head coach Kliff Kingsbury deserve credit, the play of the guards has been excellent. Veterans Justin Pugh on the left side and J.R. Sweezy on the right have been dangerous run blocking, especially in space. Most importantly they and the other starters have stayed healthy. The Cardinals' line continues their long climb out of the basement of the rankings, and they currently check-in at 24th, on the cusp of the mid-tier.
Los Angeles (N) up 1 slot
Left guard David Edwards (fifth-round rookie from Wisconsin) was quietly dominant in his first career start last week at Atlanta. Edwards played tackle in college and manned the swing role with the Rams this season prior to Joe Noteboom's knee tear. With Jamil Demby floundering, the team turned to Edwards to start inside and he will keep the job for the foreseeable future. Edwards' individual grade remains conservative but should last week prove to not be a fluke the Rams' line has further potential to rise in the rankings.
Tampa Bay up 4 slots
Right tackle Demar Dotson practiced on Wednesday in a limited fashion. Dotson had hurt his calf and hamstring in Week Five and the team has been relying on Josh Wells in his place. While Dotson has his obvious flaws as a starter, the Buccaneers have had even worse trouble protecting their quarterback without him. Assuming he returns in time for the game at Tennessee (which could be asking too much), this line's grade would slightly improve. With right guard Alex Cappa still recovering from an arm fracture, this line will probably grade in the low-tier until the entire line returns to health.
DOWNGRADES
Oakland down 1 slot
While right guard Gabe Jackson returned to action in the loss at Green Bay, right tackle Trent Brown was unavailable with a calf injury. David Sharpe started at right tackle in Green Bay and did a decent job in pass protection. Brown has practiced in a limited fashion and it's not clear if he will play this week. Center Rodney Hudson did not participate in practice with an ankle injury but he is included in the rankings. This Oakland offensive line has played at a top-tier level when healthy, but the uncertainty is starting to mount.
Los Angeles (A) down 2 slots
Oft-injured left guard Forrest Lamp was placed on injured reserve with an ankle fracture suffered in the loss at Tennessee. The line shuffled again as Dan Feeney slid back to his natural left guard position and Scott Quessenberry took Feeney's place at the pivot. Feeney was called for a crucial false start penalty on the game's last drive and one can't help but wonder if all the uncertainty in the lineup had something to do with the mistake. With Mike Pouncey on injured reserve and Russell Okung not playing a down this season so far, the Chargers' offensive line remains a low-tier option.
New York (A) down 4 slots
Left tackle Kelvin Beachum missed last week's abomination versus New England with an ankle injury. Rookie Chuma Edoga was mixed in his place, as was the rest of the Jets' line. Left guard Alex Lewis is starting for Kelechi Osemele (shoulder) but is also dealing with a neck injury of his own. Ryan Kalil snapped shotgun high last week out of the back of the end zone and generally looks like a 36-year-old player lured out of retirement would be expected to look.
The right side is also bad as Brian Winters is struggling with two injuries (shoulder/knee) and Brandon Shell, who was benched, got his starting job back at right tackle essentially due to the Beachum injury. While the quarterback and coach are also not performing well, the Jets' line as composed grade as the worst in football.
OTHER NEWS
- ATL - LG James Carpenter was limited with a knee injury but is likely to play at home vs. SEA.
- BUF - LG Quinton Spain did not practice with a foot injury but is still included in the ranks.
- CHI - RG Rashaad Coward made what coaches call "correctable mistakes" in his debut.
- JAX - Monitor LG Andrew Norwell (ankle, limited) and LT Cam Robinson (toe, DNP). Both are likely to play this weekend vs. NYJ.
- MIA - LG Evan Boehm played well at C in place of Daniel Kilgore. Monitor RT JMarcus Webb status.
- NE - Monitor RG Shaq Mason's ankle injury. He was held out of Wednesday's practice but is still in ranks for this weekend vs. CLE.
- PHI - LT Jason Peters missed last week's game against DAL and is still doubtful with a knee injury @BUF. Right tackle Lane Johnson did not practice on Wednesday due to illness but he is expected to play.
- TEN - RT Jack Conklin was limited in practice with a quad injury but is likely to play vs. TB.
- SEA - LT Duane Brown missed last week with a biceps injury but he practiced in a limited fashion this week. RG DJ Fluker (hamstring) had a full practice on Wednesday. The ranks assume both will be available @ATL.
FULL RANKINGS
Reminder: the offensive line rankings have been included in the positional rankings page, for the most up-to-date rankings, select at the bottom of drop-down here: FBG Rankings.
|
Rank
|
Team
|
Old
|
Diff
|
Score
|
Overall Grade
|
Run Grade
|
Pass Grade
|
Cohesion
|
Notes
|
|
1
|
New Orleans
|
1
|
0
|
36.63
|
A++
|
A++
|
A+
|
5
|
|
|
2
|
Dallas
|
2
|
0
|
34.43
|
A+
|
A+
|
A
|
5
|
|
|
3
|
Pittsburgh
|
3
|
0
|
34.08
|
A+
|
A+
|
A
|
5
|
|
|
4
|
Philadelphia
|
4
|
0
|
33.65
|
A+
|
A+
|
A
|
4
|
LT Jason Peters doubtful with a knee injury (Andre Dillard).
|
|
5
|
Kansas City
|
14
|
9
|
32.53
|
A+
|
A
|
A+
|
4
|
LT Eric Fisher could return from groin injury (Cam Erving). LG Andrew Wylie out with an ankle inury (Martinas Rankin).
|
|
6
|
Indianapolis
|
5
|
-1
|
32.3
|
A+
|
A+
|
A
|
5
|
|
|
7
|
Tennessee
|
6
|
-1
|
32.05
|
A
|
A+
|
A-
|
5
|
Monitor RT Jack Conklin\'s ankle (still in ranks, Dennis Kelly would replace, if needed)
|
|
8
|
Baltimore
|
7
|
-1
|
31.93
|
A
|
A+
|
A-
|
5
|
|
|
9
|
Carolina
|
17
|
8
|
31.78
|
A
|
A+
|
A-
|
5
|
RG Trai Turner to return
|
|
10
|
Green Bay
|
8
|
-2
|
31.68
|
A-
|
A
|
B+
|
4
|
|
|
11
|
Chicago
|
9
|
-2
|
31.18
|
A-
|
A
|
B+
|
4.5
|
|
|
12
|
Oakland
|
11
|
-1
|
31.13
|
A-
|
A
|
B
|
4.5
|
RT Trent Brown calf injury (David Sharpe started last week). RG Gabe Jackson returned from knee injury.
|
|
13
|
Seattle
|
10
|
-3
|
31.03
|
A-
|
A
|
B+
|
4
|
RG D.J. Fluker likely returns from hamstring injury. Monitor LT Duane Brown (biceps, STILL IN RANKS).
|
|
14
|
San Francisco
|
26
|
12
|
30.78
|
B+
|
A
|
B
|
4
|
LT Joe Staley to return from leg injury. RT Mike McGlinchey out with knee injury (Justin Skule or Daniel Brunskill).
|
|
15
|
Atlanta
|
12
|
-3
|
30.55
|
B+
|
A-
|
B
|
3
|
Monitor LG James Carpenter\'s status - STILL IN RANKS.
|
|
16
|
Detroit
|
13
|
-3
|
30.55
|
B+
|
B+
|
B+
|
5
|
|
|
17
|
Jacksonville
|
15
|
-2
|
30.43
|
B+
|
A-
|
B
|
4.5
|
Monitor LT Cam Robinson (toe) and LG Andrew Norwell (ankle) status - STILL IN RANKS.
|
|
18
|
Washington
|
16
|
-2
|
30.31
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
4
|
|
|
19
|
Denver
|
21
|
2
|
30.25
|
B
|
B+
|
B-
|
5
|
RT JaWuan James to return (Elijah Wilkinson to the bench).
|
|
20
|
Cleveland
|
18
|
-2
|
30.18
|
B-
|
B
|
C+
|
4
|
|
|
21
|
NY Giants
|
19
|
-2
|
30.15
|
B-
|
B-
|
B-
|
5
|
|
|
22
|
LA Rams
|
23
|
1
|
30.15
|
B-
|
C+
|
B
|
4
|
LG David Edwards was excellent as new starter (instead of Jamil Demby after Joe Noteboom placed on IR).
|
|
23
|
Buffalo
|
20
|
-3
|
30.08
|
B-
|
B
|
C+
|
5
|
Monitor LG Quinton Spain\'s status (foot) - STILL IN RANKS.
|
|
24
|
Arizona
|
27
|
3
|
29.65
|
C+
|
B-
|
C
|
5
|
Scheduled cohesion upgrade.
|
|
25
|
Minnesota
|
22
|
-3
|
29.53
|
C+
|
B-
|
C
|
4
|
|
|
26
|
Houston
|
24
|
-2
|
29.18
|
C
|
C+
|
C-
|
4
|
RT Tytus Howard out with a knee strain (Roderick Johnson).
|
|
27
|
LA Chargers
|
25
|
-2
|
29.18
|
C
|
C+
|
C-
|
4.5
|
LG Forrest Lamp to IR (Dan Feeney back to guard, Scott Quessenberry to center).
|
|
28
|
Tampa Bay
|
32
|
4
|
28.8
|
C-
|
C-
|
D
|
4
|
RG Alex Cappa out fractured arm (Earl Watford), RT Demar Dotson returns from hamstring injury.
|
|
29
|
Miami
|
31
|
2
|
28.28
|
C-
|
D+
|
D+
|
4
|
C Daniel Kilgore could return (Evan Boehm to guard). Monitor RT JMarcus Webb status - STILL IN RANKS
|
|
30
|
New England
|
29
|
-1
|
28.25
|
C-
|
D+
|
C
|
4
|
Monitor RG Shaq Mason (ankle) - STILL IN RANKS
|
|
31
|
Cincinnati
|
30
|
-1
|
27.93
|
D+
|
C-
|
D
|
4
|
RG Alex Redmond starting over John Miller.
|
|
32
|
NY Jets
|
28
|
-4
|
27.53
|
D+
|
C-
|
D
|
3.5
|
LG Kelechi Osemele out with shoulder injury (Alex Lewis). LT Kelvin Beachum out (Chuma Edoga).
|
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