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UPGRADES

Las Vegas up 5

With Trent Brown still on the Covid list and backup Sam Young fighting a knee injury, right tackle Brandon Parker stepped up Sunday Night against Kansas City. Most lines don't get an upgrade when moving to their third right tackle but Parker was clearly more effective than Sam Young for Trent Brown, not giving up any pass rush pressure and moving bodies in the running attack. In fact, beat writers are pushing a theory that Parker will be the starter at right tackle next season after the team moves on from Brown. It's a small upgrade, but the Raiders' line rejoins the top-10 as the team travels to Atlanta this weekend.

Washington up 6

This upgrade is based on the assumption that left tackle Cornelius Lucas (who is questionable with an ankle injury) will be able to play this Thanksgiving against Dallas. Lucas is called a true game-time decision by the coaches and is listed as questionable. However, Lucas has rejoined the team in practice this week and players in divisional nationally-televised games tend to get healthy. This is a tough call but should Lucas be available, Morgan Moses would swap back to his natural right tackle position and David Sharpe would return to the swing role. The line is much better with Lucas in the lineup, those with exposure to the Washington offense should monitor the game-day inactive list. The "Football Team" ranks 12th in the latest grades.

Dallas up 18

Rookie center Tyler Biadasz was added to the injured reserve list Saturday with a short-term hamstring injury. Veteran Joe Looney recovered from his MCL sprain and started in Biadasz place. The line as a whole has been playing better since the coaches moved right guard Zack Martin to right tackle, allowing Connor McGovern to play Martin's guard spot. Martin has been a stabilizing force at right tackle and it's safe to say the coaches have gotten their best five players on the field. The Cowboys' line faces a tough matchup against the Washington Football Team's defensive front seven on Thursday, but they are again graded as a middle of the road, solid option.

Minnesota up 3

Veteran Brett Jones started at right guard for Ezra Cleveland last week against Dallas, and the line as a whole was much improved. Reading the tea leaves, Jones appears to have settled the right guard discussion for this season, as Cleveland is unlikely to get his job back once he returns from his ankle injury. Jones is normally a backup center but he has familiarity with the system. Cleveland has more physical upside but Jones knows the plays and is not a work in progress like Cleveland. The Vikings' line grade is 17th in the latest rankings.

Buffalo up 2

Coming out of their bye week, the Bills' line could see center Mitch Morse return from his concussion suffered three games ago. Morse was rumored to be healthy enough to go two weeks ago against Arizona, but Jon Feliciano got the start instead. Feliciano is a starter-quality backup and the team can afford to be cautious with their injured players due to this extra depth. Along those lines, Cody Ford (knee) is still questionable for the game against LA Chargers. With Ike Boettger playing well at left guard and other depth like Feliciano, the team doesn't have to rush their young player's rehab. The Bills' line grades 19th in the current rankings.

DOWNGRADES

Philadelphia down 2

First, the good news, left guard Isaac Seumalo played 100% of snaps against Cleveland. Center Jason Kelce left the game with an elbow injury, but the X-ray was negative so he returned in the second half with a brace. The bad news is at tackle, where Jason Peters' game has deteriorated quickly. The fans are clamoring for Peters to be benched for Jordan Mailata, or at least moved to right guard for Matt Pryor (who is also not playing well). Right tackle Lane Johnson didn't finish the game again, hampered by an ankle injury all season. These names Peters, Kelce, Johnson carry certain high grades in the rankings due to their accomplishments. However, those with lineup decisions to make about the Eagles' offense should be aware that while this is still a top-5 offensive line according to the model, the tackle positions are vulnerable at the moment.

Green Bay down 2

Center Corey Linsley injured his back last week and signs from practice indicate he will be unlikely to play this Sunday night against Chicago. While the coaches have characterized Linsley's injury as "minor, not missing significant time," Linsley's back has been a chronic problem for the 29-year-old. Linsley tried (and failed) to practice snaps with quarterback Aaron Rodgers this Wednesday. As they did during last week's game, look for the team to move Elgton Jenkins to center from left guard, and Jon Runyan to get action at left guard. They could also use right guard Lucas Patrick at center, but the coaches prefer Runyan at left guard rather than right. The Packers' line grades 9th in this week's rankings.

Jacksonville down 6

Left guard Andrew Norwell was forced from last week's game against Pittsburgh with an elbow injury. Coaches have already said Norwell is not going to play Week 12 against Cleveland. Tyler Shatley (who has a high degree of familiarity with this system) replaced Norwell when the injury occurred and will likely get the start this week. Norwell is one of the league's better run blockers, but he has a tendency to miss a handful of games every season. Jacksonville place 15th in the current ranks.

New England down 1

Left tackle Isaiah Wynn injured his right knee/ankle late in the fourth quarter against Houston. The team announced this week that Wynn avoided major injury, but the implication is he will be out this week against Arizona, at the least. Jermaine Elumunor played the final four snaps of the game last week and he could get the start this week as well. Justin Herron is another option, the sixth-round rookie having returned from the injured list, and the team could rotate the pair. It's always hard to predict what the tight-lipped Patriots' staff will do from week-to-week, but they grade 16th in this week's rankings.

Kansas City down 19

Right tackle Mitchell Schwartz was added to the injured reserve list last Saturday. The All-Pro had been rumored to be near a return from a back injury he suffered Week 6 against Buffalo, but this turned out to be the opposite of the truth. Mike Remmers is doing a decent job in place of Schwartz, especially in the running attack, but the Chiefs' depth is being tested at the tackle spot. This offense is a fantasy machine with or without their right tackle but full disclosure they graded 23rd in the latest rankings.

NY Jets down 2

Right tackle George Fant was forced from last week's loss against the Chargers with knee and ankle injuries. Fant did not practice this week. Chuma Edoga replaced Fant during the game but then he also left with a low-ankle sprain. Edoga was replaced by Conor McDermott. Edoga is limited in practice this week and McDermott could get the start against Miami. Edoga has a better draft pedigree than McDermott, but the model treats them essentially the same. There is some positivity, as rookie Mekhi Becton is performing at a Pro Bowl level, but still, the Jets grade 24th in the latest ranks.

Seattle down 6

Right tackle Brandon Shell was forced from the end of last week's Thursday Night Football with a high ankle sprain. While Shell does have 11 days' rest before this week's Monday Night clash against Philadelphia, the team could turn to Cedric Ogbouhi to start. Ogbouhi is a similar player to Shell, good in run blocking, average in pass protection. At center, Damien Lewis got a surprise start last week in place of Ethan Pocic (concussion). But Pocic has practiced in full this week and is included in the team's grade, 25th in the current rankings.

Baltimore down 13

Tough situation to judge with the Ravens, as an outbreak this week has moved their Thursday game to Sunday, and has landed both centers Matt Skura and Patrick Mekari the Reserve/COVID-19 list. The team could have one or both of those players back on Sunday, depending on the timing of their illness. But more conservatively the team will either have to move left guard Bradley Bozeman to center (his college spot with Alabama) or turn to undrafted rookie Trystan Colon-Castillo from Missouri. In other news, Will Holden and D.J. Fluker have been splitting right tackle reps in place of Orlando Brown (moved to LT in place of Ronnie Stanley), and neither has been able to win the job outright. This is an unsteady unit since Stanley went down and they can't be placed higher than 27th in this week's rankings.

Miami down 3

Another shuffle, as right tackle Jesse Davis was placed on the Covid list on Monday. Davis played 100% of snaps last week against Denver but noticeably struggled in pass protection. Fourth-round rookie Solomon Kindley left the game with a foot injury (same foot earlier in the year). The lineup that finished was Michael Dieter at right guard and Robert Hunt at right tackle. While getting Hunt into the lineup is good news, losing Kindley and Davis hurts. Miami grades at 28th in the line rankings.

OTHER NEWS

CAR - RG Dennis Daley was forced from the DET game with a concussion, veteran Michael Schofield replaced, and could get the start this week against Minnesota. Daley has more upside but these players carry similar grades.

CIN - Jonah Williams played 100% of snaps at LT, Hakeem Adeniji started at RT but Adeniji was pulled for Bobby Hart late.

DEN - RG Graham Glasgow left late in MIA game with a calf injury. Glasgow played 85% of snaps and is included in this week's grades. If he can't go, look for Austin Schlottman to replace.

HOU - LT Laremy Tunsil was a late scratch prior to NEP with an illness, and Roderick Johnson played well in his place. Tunsil has practiced in full this week. Also, the team picked up Hjalte Froholdt through waivers, the former NEP was a 2019 4th round pick.

IND - RT Braden Smith (thumb) late scratch due to injury in Thurs practice requiring stitches. LeRaven Clark started, Chaz Green finished. Smith has been full in practice this week and is included in the ranks.

NOS - LG Andrus Peat suffered a concussion in the first quarter of last week's game against Atlanta. Cesar Ruiz and Nick Easton had been in rotation at RG until Peat went down, then Easton took over full time. No change to ranks as the Saints carry an elite grade with or without Peat.

TBB - C A.Q. Shipley suffered a neck injury during Monday Night Football that beat writers are saying is a career-ender. During the game, Ryan Jensen was moved to guard but look for Jensen to back at center this week as Ali Marpet (concussion) practiced in full and should be ready for Kansas City.

TEN - RT Ty Sambrailo has been ruled out for the season with an undisclosed injury. The team turned to David Quessenberry last week against Baltimore and will likely do so again this week at Indianapolis. Quessenberry has a long history with this coaching staff, but the lack of Isaiah Wilson (first-round rookie) is notable. The offense continues to function, but the team is on their 3rd left tackle this year. In "more" other news look for Aaron Brewer to get another start at left guard, as there is still no sign of Rodger Saffold (ankle) at practice.

FULL RANKINGS