Photo: Imagn Images

UPGRADES

Carolina up 6

Left tackle Russell Okung returned to practice this week and was limited with the calf injury which kept him out of the past two games. In Okung's place, Greg Little and Trent Scott split reps. Both are a noticeable step down from Okung, who provides an extra layer of pass protection when he is in the lineup. The Panthers have a tough matchup this week at Kansas City, but the ten days rest from last week's Thursday Night Football should be enough to get their left tackle available to play. This is still a below-average group, but assuming Okung plays, trending upward, 21st in the latest rankings.

NY Jets up 5

Left guard Alex Lewis recovered from his shoulder injury and started Week 8 against Kansas City. While rookie left tackle Mekhi Becton has all the physical upside, Lewis is the veteran who keeps the group together. Lewis' return allowed Josh Andrews to return to the bench, but only briefly, as center Connor McGovern exited the game with a knee injury. Coaches say McGovern is managing the injury and he is included in the model for Monday Night Football versus New England. The winless Jets are obviously a deeply flawed offense due to coaching and quarterback issues but, for those who still care, their offensive line should be slightly better than usual, 20th in this week's rankings.

LA Chargers up 1

Right tackle Bryan Bulaga started last week against Denver and played 100% of snaps for only the second time this season. Bulaga's return sent the unsteady Trey Pipkins to the bench. Look for future upgrades when right guard Trai Turner returns to health. Turner is questionable with a knee injury this week against Las Vegas but he is held out of the model until he sees action. In related news, Cole Toner (former seventh-round pick from Harvard) recorded his first career start at right guard in place of Turner, after Ryan Groy was added to the Covid list. Toner held up surprisingly well last week and the coaches will likely give him another chance this week.

Cincinnati up 1

Last week the Bengals signed Quinton Spain from waivers and started him against Tennessee. The coaches had planned to rotate Spain with Shaq Calhoun, but Spain took 100% of snaps. Spain is a rugged run blocker and was an instant upgrade over usual starter Michael Jordan. This low-graded group is on their bye week, but they are due for upgrades as their left tackle, center, and right tackle will all likely return to health soon.

DOWNGRADES

Tampa Bay down 8

Left guard Ali Marpet played the entire game against the Giants on Monday Night but he was added to the league's concussion protocol mid-week and is likely to miss the team's Sunday Night divisional game against New Orleans. Usual backup center A.Q. Shipley will most likely replace Marpet. The coaches could go with Joe Haeg, who is the stronger player over Shipley, but they are using him as an extra-blocker tight end in their jumbo sets. Assuming Marpet misses Sunday Night, this talented group falls slightly in the latest rankings, 13th overall.

Baltimore down 14

Disastrous news in Baltimore as All-Pro Ronnie Stanley suffered a season-ending ankle injury last week against Pittsburgh. Orlando Brown Jr. will swap over from the right tackle spot and D.J. Fluker will start at right tackle. Rookie guard Tyre Phillips was also placed on the injured reserve with an ankle injury, and he will be replaced by Patrick Mekari going forward. The Phillips for Mekari swap is the type of substitution lines make all the time but Fluker could struggle in pass protection as a starting right tackle. There's no easy way to replace Ronnie Stanley in their lineup. The once elite Ravens' offensive line falls to 16th after the loss of their best player.

Buffalo down 2

The team activated guard Jon Felciano from injured reserve prior to the win over New England. Felciano started at left guard then moved to center after Mitch Morse excited with a concussion. Ike Boettger replaced Feliciano at left guard. Cody Ford is questionable with a knee injury, and if he returns to health this week it would send Boettger to the bench and offset the loss of Morse. However, this player has a history with this condition, and Morse could miss considerable time.

San Francisco down 11

Left tackle Trent Williams was added to the team's Covid list after the loss at Seattle. Justin Skule, who started several games in place of Joe Staley last season, will start in Williams' place. Skule is an underrated player but without George Kittle, the team will lose that extra chip in pass protection. Until Williams returns to health, this 49ers' line will likely grade as a low-tier option.

Denver down 4

Right guard Graham Glasgow was added to the Covid list just prior to the team's win over Los Angeles last week. Austin Schlottman replaced Glasgow and did a decent job, as he did in relief of left guard Dalton Risner for several games earlier this season. Schlottman is an interesting utility prospect but losing the team's highest-paid lineman in Glasgow will probably have an effect on the offense this week at Atlanta.

Chicago down 1

Right tackle Bobby Massie was added to the injured reserve after suffering a knee injury last week against New Orleans. Jason Spriggs replaced Massie in the game but Spriggs was added to the Covid list and will be unavailable for this week against Tennessee. Center Cody Whitehair, who was already injured with a calf issue, also tested Covid positive, sending most of the group into isolation. It's not clear who the starting lineup will be this weekend, perhaps right guard Germain Ifedi will play right tackle. But be aware, this line is in upheaval at the moment. They carry the lowest grade of the week.

OTHER NEWS

DET - Left tackle Taylor Decker (back) and right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai (foot) should be monitored for gameday inactive against MIN. Both are included in the rankings but one or both could miss the game due to injury.

GBP - Left tackle David Bakhtiari is questionable with a chest injury for Thursday Night Football against San Francisco. Bakhtiari (who didn't go Week 8) is still in the ranks.

HOU - Backup guard Max Sharping was added to the Covid list. Sharping lost his job to Senio Kelemete earlier this season.

KCC - Still no sign of right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, who is out with a back injury.,

NOS - Left tackle Terron Armstead did, in fact, played Week 8 after being questionable with an elbow injury. Armstead had been held out of the model, he's back in this week, as is backup lineman Nick Easton, who is recovered after missing two games with a concussion.

FULL RANKINGS