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UPGRADES

Tennessee plus 7

This upgrade is based on the individual play of left tackle David Quessenberry. After a mid-career bout with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Quessenberry recorded his first career start last week against a tough Indianapolis defense at thirty years old. Last season, he was used as an extra tight end and caught a pass in trick play circumstances, so he is a rare athlete. But few expected Quessenberry to physically dominate as a starter, especially in the run game. With Ty Sambrailo and Taylor Lewan on injured reserve, and first-round pick Isaiah Wilson seeing his first game action (3 snaps in garbage time), the job is Quessenberry's to lose down the stretch. That being said, the Titans' offensive line faces a stern test this week as Myles Garrett and the Browns will look to test Quessenberry. Still, this line ranks 19th in this week's rankings and is trending upward.

Carolina up 15

Left tackle Russell Okung returned to action last week against Minnesota and played 100% of snaps. Known as a talented, but injury-prone veteran, this was Okung's first game action since Week 7. The team is on their bye week, but assuming Okung remains healthy (and considering how many other lines are dealing with massive injuries at this stage in the season), this Panthers' line enters the top 10 in the latest grades.

Buffalo plus 5

The team placed Cody Ford on injured reserve with a knee issue. Usually, news like this isn't cause for an upgrade, but Ford's loss is offset by Jon Feliciano returning to start at left guard. With Mitch Morse healthy at center again, Feliciano can be used at guard, sending Ike Boettger to the bench. The Bills' line has a favorable match-up on the road against a banged-up San Francisco 49ers defensive line, and they rank 14th in this week's rankings.

Miami plus 8

This is another "best-five" situation, as the Dolphins activated Jesse Davis from the Covid list last week and started him at right guard against the Jets. Robert Hunt continued his stellar play at right tackle while Solomon Kindley got the week off (and perhaps more) to deal with his foot injury. The Dolphins' line ranks 20th, the highest point they've been all season. They have an above-average match-up this week, hosting a fairly toothless Cincinnati defensive front seven.

DOWNGRADES

Indianapolis down 2

Former Pro-Bowl left tackle Anthony Castonzo sprained his knee (MCL) last week against Tennessee. Le'Raven Clark played 3/4 of the snaps in his place and Clark is likely to start again this week against Houston. There is a noticeable step down from Castonzo to Clark, especially in run blocking. In other news, center Ryan Kelly was a late scratch last week with a neck injury, allowing Danny Pinter (fifth-round rookie) to recorded his first career NFL start. Kelly is practicing in full and included in the Colts' top-3 rating. This downgrade would be larger, but many teams are having worse line issues at the moment.

Philadelphia down 13

Right tackle Lane Johnson was placed on injured reserve last week with an ankle injury. With Sua Opeta also added to injured reserve, the line has shuffled to the following: Jordan Mailata - Issac Suemalo - Jason Kelce - Jason Peters - Matt Pryor, with Nate Herbig as the depth interior lineman and Jack Driscoll as the swing tackle. Johnson put up a valiant effort, and this line has upside for the future in Mailata, but the loss of Johnson drops the Eagles' offensive line to 18th overall.

Pittsburgh down 17

Center Maurkice Pouncey was added to the Covid list prior to last week's win over Baltimore. J.C. Hassenauer (a former undrafted free agent from Alabama) recorded his first career start and could be in line to get another start next Monday against a tough Washington Football Team defensive front.

Detroit down 5

Right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai was placed on injured reserve prior to the Thanksgiving loss against Houston. Journeyman Oday Aboushi started for Vaitai at the spot, and he should have the job for the duration. Vaitai had a foot problem he just couldn't overcome. Detroit's offensive line ranks 25th this week and faces a tough Chicago defensive front seven this weekend.

NY Jets down 7

Waiver wire addition Pat Elflein started at left guard last week over Alex Lewis (coaching decision). Lewis had been considered one of the better Jets' lineman, and his benching could be signs of the wheels falling off inside that locker room. At right tackle George Fant (knee, ankle) will likely miss this weekend's home game against Las Vegas, but Chuma Edoga (ankle) went full in practice. Edoga and Conor McDermott could rotate reps at right tackle, depending on who is playing better. This line ranks 31st.

Dallas down 19

All-Pro right tackle Zack Martin injured his calf last Thursday against Washington and he expected to miss multiple weeks. In related news left tackle Cameron Erving hurt his knee but is day-to-day. The team will likely turn to Brandon Knight at left tackle and Terence Steele at the right next Monday Night against a stout Baltimore defensive front. The Cowboys' line brings up the rear of the ranks, 32nd overall.

OTHER NEWS

ARZ - LG Justin Pugh injured ankle at NEP but returned to the game after 1 series (Max Garcia replaced).

BAL - Jake Rodgers cleared waivers from Denver and was signed by the Ravens to backup at tackle. With Patrick Mekari and Matt Skura both on the Covid list, Trystan Colon-Castillo recorded his first career start at C. The rookie is projected to get another start Monday night against DAL.

CHI - Offensive line shuffle: Cody Whitehair to LG, Sam Mustipher to C, Alex Bars at RG, Germain Ifedi to RT. The lineup showed promise against Green Bay, but this is still a low-tier line.

CIN - RG Alex Redmond missed half of last week's Giants game with a concussion. Michael Jordan replaced in the lineup at LG, Quinton Spain to RG. Xavier Sua Filo (ankle, week 1) returned from IR last week and should get the start at RG, with Spain at LG.

DEN - RT Demar Dotson and Elijah Wilkinson split reps 1:1 vs NOS. Dotson is fighting through a hand injury but this was a coaching decision.

GBP - C Corey Linsley tried to gut it out last week against CHI, but was forced from the game after only 30% of snaps. Linsley is expected to miss 3-6 weeks with a knee injury. Like last week, Eldgon Jenkins to C, Jon Runyan to LG.

HOU - RG Zach Fulton was benched for a series due to pass protection issues, Senio Kelemete got reps.

JAX - LG Andrew Norwell (shoulder) to IR. Ben Bartch and Tyler Shatley split reps.

LAC - RT Bryan Bulaga missed last week with a stomach illness but is back at practice (Trey Pipkins replaced).

LVR - LG Denzelle Good left last week's game with an ankle but returned to the game (Patrick Omameh replaced).

NEP - LT Isaiah Wynn was placed on injured reserve with his knee injury. Jermaine Eluemunor started and played most of the game last week, while Justin Herron played 2 series.

NOS - LT Terron Armstead was added to the Covid list (James Hurst replaced last week against DEN and could again). LG Andrus Peat (concussion) was replaced by Nick Easton but is full in practice this week. This would be considered a downgrade, but the general carnage at this point in the season from most of the other squads makes this more of a sideways move.

NYG - LG Shane Lemieux had a 2:1 snaps split with Will Hernandez.

SEA - Still no RT Brandon Shell (knee) in practice. Cedric Ogbuehi another start.

SFO - RG Tom Compton sustained a concussion last week and could not clear the league's protocol prior to the win over the Rams. Colton McKivitz earned his first career start at RG.

WFT - The Football Team signed Timon Parris and Rick Leonard to backup at tackle. Left tackle Cornelius Lucas could be a week away from returning from injury, look for Morgan Moses to continue to play LT.

FULL RANKINGS