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UPGRADES

Miami up 3

After missing last week's game with an ankle sprain, left guard Ereck Flowers was able to increase his workload and join his teammates at practice in a limited fashion this week prior to the upcoming home divisional game against New England. Flowers' return to the lineup would let Solomon Kindley deal with his foot injury, and would again get the best five players on the field for the Dolphins' offense. Once a notorious draft bust at tackle, Flowers has become one of the most reliable guards in the league. Assuming he returns, this Dolphins' offensive line climbs slightly closer to average, grading 21st in the latest rankings.

Indianapolis up 6

After missing Week 13, veteran left tackle Anthony Castonzo started and played 75% of the snaps in the win over Las Vegas. Castonzo was briefly forced from the game with the same knee injury (Chaz Green replaced), but Castonzo did finish the contest. He is resting in practice this week, and the team signed journeyman tackle Will Holden for depth, but Castonzo's condition appears to be one of pain management rather than physical limitation. Expect the Colts' line to be ready to face Houston at home in a key divisional game. This team holds the top spot in the latest rankings.

Chicago up 2

Despite losing James Daniels to the injured reserve list earlier in the season, the Bears' offensive interior has been playing well of late. New additions Alex Bars (right guard) and Sam Mustipher (center) may be unfamiliar names to NFL fans, but the two played next to each other at Notre Dame for several seasons, before both going undrafted in 2019. Harry Hiestand was the offensive line coach at Notre Dame, and he brought Bars and Mustipher with him when he took the same job in Chicago. All of this is to say, these relative unknowns are playing like high priced veterans, in part due to the cohesion they built up even before they arrived in the league. The model hasn't seen that before. The Bears' offensive line ranks 20th, a solid option against a vulnerable Minnesota defensive front seven this weekend.

DOWNGRADES

Pittsburgh down 1

Left guard Matt Feiler tore his pectoral last week and the team placed him on the injured reserve list, ending his season. Fourth-round rookie Kevin Dotson replaced Feiler, but then he hurt his shoulder and had to be relieved by J.C. Hessenauer. Reading the tea leaves, Dotson's shoulder should be ready in time for him to record his third career start on Monday Night Football against Cincinnati. In case he isn't, the team signed Danny Isidora. In other news, right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor hurt his ankle during the game but returned to finish. Okorafor and Dotson are included in this week's grades. Even with the uncertainty at guard, this is a top-5 offensive line.

Atlanta down 2

Right tackle Kaleb McGary missed last week's game with what the coaches termed "an undisclosed non-injury absence." Matt Gono started and played all of the snaps, holding up well in the close loss against the Chargers. As we have no information on McGary's status, other than he's also missing practice this week, look for Gono to get another start, his third this year and 19th in his career. Gono is a decent swing tackle but McGary's disappearance lowers the Falcons' grade slightly to just outside this week's top-10.

San Francisco down 1

Last week the team placed right guard Tom Compton on the injured reserve list with lingering concussion symptoms. Colton McKivitz, the rookie from West Virginia, had been splitting reps with Compton but he has been placed on the Covid list. The team signed Tony Bergstrom from the street and he could be the starting guard against Dallas this weekend. At center, Daniel Brunskill injured his shoulder and his status is questionable. The model assumes Brunskill plays, but with Hroniss Grasu also dealing with a knee injury, they could be forced to look at practice squad options if Brunskill isn't able to go. This 49ers' offensive line ranks 13th on the strength of their tackles, but the interior is having real problems.

Carolina down 8

Oft-injured veteran Russell Okung was forced from last week's game with a calf and has not been practicing this week. All signs point to Trent Scott getting the start this weekend in below-freezing Green Bay. Okung has started seven games this season but had been healthy for the last month or so prior to the latest issue. For all the difficulty the Panthers' have to get Okung on the field, he's a difference-maker when healthy, and players at that position are not easily found. After a strong start to the season, the Panthers' offensive line ranks 14th, trending in the wrong direction.

Philadelphia down 1

Right tackle Jack Driscoll sprained his knee last week against New Orleans. Driscoll finished the game but after the game the team placed him on injured reserve, ending his season. The right guard options this weekend at Arizona are Matt Pryor or Brett Toth. Toth has the physical upside but Pryor has the experience, starting at right tackle against Seattle during last year's playoff loss. Look for both players to see time as this mash unit of an Eagles' offensive line stumbles to the finish of the season. Philadelphia ranks 22nd in the current rankings.

LA Chargers down 9

Right tackle Bryan Bulaga was forced from last week's game against Atlanta with a concussion after 3 snaps. With the Thursday Night Football clash against Las Vegas looming, Bulaga has been ruled out, he is not able to clear the league's protocol for a few more days. Storm Norton replaced Bulaga in the game and will get his second career start this week. The Chargers offense is known for it's strong skill positions, but the offensive line only ranks 23rd going into Week 15.

Kansas City down 6

Right tackle Mike Remmers was forced from the Miami game with a back injury. Remmers has had chronic back issues in the past and he is looking extremely unlikely to play this week against New Orleans. With Mitchell Schwartz still out, rookie Yasir Durant stepped in for Remmers during the third quarter. Durant, an undrafted free agent from Missouri, should get his first career start against a very difficult New Orleans defensive front. In related news, Eric Fisher played 100% of last week's snaps but added to the injury report with back pain mid-week. Bryan Witzmann would be an emergency option but the model predicts Fisher and Durant will be the tackles this week. The Chiefs' line clocks in at 29th in this week's rankings.

Detroit down 3

Center Frank Ragnow played 100% of snaps last week against Green Bay. After the game, it was revealed Ragnow did so with a fractured throat. Truly a heroic effort by Ragnow, in a league where these miracles are expected weekly. In his place, the options include Joe Dahl, Jonah Jackson, and rookie Logan Stenberg

OTHER NEWS

ARZ - RG Justin Murray is officially starting over J.R. Sweezy according to the newest depth chart.

BUF - C Mitch Morse missed a few snaps vs PIT to get what coaches called "a stabilizing wrap" on his elbow. He is not listed on this week's injury report.

CLE - RG Wyatt Teller is considered day-to-day with an ankle injury (unrelated to a previous calf injury). Teller is playing at a Pro Bowl level and is still included in the model. Chris Hubbard would be his replacement, if necessary.

CIN - LT Hakeem Adeniji was benched after being the butt in Giovanni Bernard's butt-fumble. Fred Johnson replaced during the game, projected to start this week vs PIT.

DEN - Elijah Wilkinson was elevated to RT1 over Demar Dotson by the coaches. Wilkinson had been recovering from a leg fracture suffered in Week 4. Last week Calvin Anderson got a spot start for Garrett Bolles (illness - full practice). At RG, Graham Glasgow (foot) is still out and Netane Muti started in his place.

HOU - Last week, LG Max Scharping was benched for Brent Qvale (Senio Kelemete not available). Qvale is good in run blocking but Scharping has been a big let down.

MIN - RT Brian O'Neill missed time during the game due to a poked eye. Rashod Hill replaced him during the game O'Neill will reportedly be fine against CHI.

NEP - Both LT Jermaine Elumunor and Justin Herron were limited with ankles this week in practice

TEN - LG Rodger Saffold started the blowout win over JAX but didn't finish (Aaron Brewer). Hampered by injury, Saffold is managing his reps to make it through the season.

FULL RANKINGS