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UPGRADES

LA Chargers up 11 slots

After missing most of the season recovering from blood clots (pulmonary embolism), left tackle (and team captain) Russell Okung returned to the lineup last week for the win against Chicago. Okung's participation was supposed to be limited for the game but he played 80% of snaps before yielding to Trent Scott. Scott (a natural right tackle playing out of position) relieved Okung for a calf injury and the line immediately sacrificed a sack to Khalil Mack, the first they allowed during the contest. With Okung, the line was able to create a perfect pocket against the Bears' notorious edge rushers. Despite his calf injury, expect Okung to start again at Green Bay. In other news, center Scott Quessenberry has done an acceptable job in place of Mike Pouncey and he could prove himself to be a starting quality player, if not in Los Angeles, then for another team. The Chargers' offensive line is a mid-tier unit with Okung, trending upward in the latest ranks.

Oakland up 2 slots

This is the classic "mixed bag" update. Right tackle Trent Brown was able to rejoin the lineup prior to last week's game at Houston and with right guard Gabe Jackson also making an appearance, all five starters from preseason were finally available for the first time all season. However, this situation only lasted a few plays, as center Rodney Hudson left the game with a high ankle sprain and Andre James (undrafted rookie from UCLA) had to replace Hudson for most of the game, 82% of offensive snaps. The team signed Erik Magnusson off the Bills' practice squad, which sends the message Hudson's injury could require multiple weeks. Andre James sat out Wednesday and the team used Richie Incognito at emergency center. This Raiders' line could be a top-tier line if all five players can get healthy at the same time. But with uncertainty at the center position, their grade hovers in the mid-tier.

Minnesota up 1 slot

This is a scheduled cohesion upgrade, as the Vikings' offensive line approaches full cohesion. This line is a run-first unit with boringly solid tackles in Riley Reiff and Rick Wagner. This team's ranking often depends on the play of the interior, and lately, this play has been good. The guard duo of Josh Kline and Pat Elflein are similar players: excellent in the run game, but vulnerable one-on-one in pass protection. The rookie center Garrett Bradbury has settled down after a rocky start to the year and the interior as a whole has done a good job finding holes in the defensive front seven for the Vikings' running attack. This Vikings' line continues to creep up the rankings, checking in at 24th in the latest edition.

DOWNGRADES

Pittsburgh down 1 slot

Center Maurkice Pouncey played 100% of the snaps on Monday Night Football against the Dolphins but has sat out of practice this week with a calf injury. The model expects Pouncey to play (this is a bit of a guess, those with exposure to this offense should check Pouncey's status closer to game time). However, left guard Ramon Foster is also hurt, in the concussion protocol all week and not practicing. Foster's availability for this weekend versus Indianapolis is in serious doubt, and B.J. Finney would get the start in his place. Finney is a decent replacement and the Steelers' line remains a top tier option without Foster. But the depth is being tested and should both Pouncey and Foster miss the game, it's not clear who would play guard (Zach Banner? Chuks Okorafor?) and without the pair of starters, this line would drop another ten (or more) slots to the mid-tier.

Kansas City down 18 slots

First a mea culpa, as left tackle Eric Fisher did not return to the lineup as predicted last week against Green Bay. These injury predictions, based on words like questionable, can become more art than a science. It appears Fisher is no closer to returning from his groin injury and will likely be unavailable this week for the contest at Minnesota. While left guard Andrew Wylie did return to practice this week after recovering from an ankle sprain, right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff will likely miss the game with an ankle injury of his own. Look for Martinas Rankin, who had been substituting for Wylie, to play in Duvernay-Tardiff's place instead. Cam Erving would stay at tackle, and teams are game-planning against this player out of position. Missing their left tackle and right guard, this Chiefs' line falls to the mid-tier.

Tennessee down 4 slots

Two Titans are in the league's concussion protocol this week: left guard Rodger Saffold and center Ben Jones. However, as Saffold was limited on Wednesday while Jones did not participate, coupled with the signing of backup center Hroniss Grasu, the model is assuming Saffold will play this week at Carolina while Jones will not. Jamil Douglas could get the start this weekend. The Titans' line has been dominant in recent weeks but they could take a small step backward without their usual center.

San Francisco down 3 slots

Another piece of housekeeping, as left tackle Joe Staley did not return for the win against Carolina last week. However, in light of Staley's age, and the high level exhibited by current starter Justin Skule, it's fair to wonder if Staley has been "Wally Pipped" in this situation. The 49ers' line grades in the mid-tier without Staley, but look for a bump next week if/when he and right tackle Mike McGlinchey can return to the lineup.

Denver down 1 slot

Right tackle Ja'Wuan James started the game against Indianapolis after missing several weeks with a knee injury. James suffered a setback to the injury during the game and had to yield to Elijah Wilkinson again. Wilkinson is a decent player but not as accomplished in pass protection. James will likely miss several more weeks, perhaps even the entire season. The grade for the Broncos' offensive line remains in the mid-tier.
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Seattle down 12 slots

Right guard D.J. Fluker did return prior to the win over Atlanta but both left guard Mike Iupati and center Justin Britt left the game with knee injuries. Britt's injury was announced as an ACL tear and he was placed on injured reserve. Joey Hunt, whose grade is not much lower than Britt's, will start against Tampa Bay this week, and for the remainder of the season. Iupati has had chronic knee injuries throughout his career and he did not practice on Wednesday. Look for Jamarco Jones, a converted tackle originally from Ohio State, to do a decent job in replacement of Iupati, as he had been done in spelling Fluker for the last few weeks. Still, with the cohesion change at two positions and the drop in talent between Iupati and Jones, this Seattle' offensive line falls from the mid-tier to the low-tier.

OTHER NEWS

• ATL - LG James Carpenter will have a bye week to rest his knee injury.
• CLE - LT Justin McCray replaced Greg Robinson in the lineup (coaches' decision, no change to ranks).
• GB - Several banged-up players to watch: RT Bryan Bulaga is probable with a hand injury, C Corey Linsley practiced through a back injury, and LT David Bakhtiari is fighting a rib knock. All are ETP: Expected To Play
• HOU - RT Tytus Howard (knee) returned to practice in a limited fashion. Howard is fighting an MCL sprain and was seen wearing a huge knee brace. He is not expected to travel to London but should rejoin the lineup after the Week 10 bye week (NOT IN RANKS).
• JAC - C Brandon Linder was given veteran rest mid-week for a shoulder injury. Side note, Linder has probably played in London as much as any NFL player.
• NE - RG Shaq Mason ankle injury questionable but still in ranks
• NYJ - C Ryan Kalil is questionable with a knee injury but should start at Miami. LT Kelvin Beachum looks to be at least another week away on his ankle sprain (Chuma Edoga replaces.)
• PHI - LT Jason Peters still fighting a knee injury and is expected to be inactive at Chicago.
• TB - RG Alex Cappa doubtful (returned to practice after forearm fracture, might not be ready for this week at Seattle). RT Demar Dotson missed practice with a hamstring injury, but he played 100% of snaps last week. Cappa is not included in the ranks, but Dotson is.
• WAS - LT Trent Williams reported but he has failed his physical. Without getting too deep in the weeds, look for Williams to continue to sit out, and be traded this offseason for a second-round pick.

FULL RANKINGS

If you have a question about a player, team or matchup not specifically talked about in this article, please feel free to contact the author via Twitter.

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