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UPGRADES

Green Bay up 11

After missing the last three games with an ankle injury, Pro Bowl left guard Elgton Jenkins returned to practice this week in a limited fashion. Jenkins had been subbing at left tackle for David Bakhtiari, but with Yosh Nijman playing so well at left tackle, Jenkins might instead return to his normal left guard spot this week against a tough Chicago defensive front seven. In other news, center Lucas Patrick played 100% of snaps last week against Cincinnati while rookie Josh Myers healed his finger. Myers has been practicing in full this week and is included in the ranks. This line is getting healthier, while many others are going in the opposite direction. They grade inside the top three and have even more upside for improvement in a few weeks when Bakhtiari returns to full health.

LA Rams up 5

Ten days after their double-digit win over division rivals Seattle, this Rams' line gets an ability-based upgrade. The group is led by the bookend pairing of left tackle Andrew Whitworth and right tackle Rob Havenstein, each with one sack given up on the season. In addition, their guards are also underrated, particularly in pass protection. This Rams' offensive line has been known as a mauling group in the past but this year's version is protecting quarterback Matthew Stafford, allowing him to survey the field for deep routes. The Rams' line grades out sixth this week's rankings, prior to facing a vulnerable NY Giants' defensive front.

Philadelphia up 13

With right tackle Lane Johnson away from the team for personal reasons, Jordan Mailata played right tackle, 100% of snaps in the road win at Carolina. The Eagles' line has been ravaged by injury in the early season, with only center Jason Kelce starting in his original spot from the season opener. Mailata, who had started the year at left tackle, then missed a game with a neck injury, returned last week and the Eagles were able to trot out their best five lineup of Andre Dillard - Landon Dickerson - Kelce - Jack Driscoll - Mailata. Dillard is a natural left tackle and Mailata's versatility has helped the coaching staff. The line faces a tough matchup at home this Thursday against the Buccaneers, but they grade out thirteenth in the latest rankings.

Carolina up 5

The Panthers' offensive line saw two starters return to practice this week in left tackle Cameron Erving (neck) and left guard Pat Elflein (hamstring). Last week, the Panthers slid right tackle Taylor Moton to the left side and gave rookie Brady Christensen his first career start at right tackle. Erving has been practicing in full and while Moton can play a decent left tackle, he can be dominant at the right side. Pat Elflein was designated for return from the injured reserve and officially has 21 days to rejoin the roster. Still, there's a real chance Elflein sends Dennis Daley to the bench this week as the team travels to Minnesota. This line ranks 22nd in the latest grades.

Pittsburgh up 8

The FBG offensive line model standardizes grades for rookies during the first month of the season based on their draft slot. This policy was based on the philosophy that there was no NFL film for these players and it often works out fine. But every so often, a player drafted in the middle rounds starts instantly and outperforms their draft slot. Such is the case with Pittsburgh left tackle Dan Moore. Drafted in the fourth round out of Texas A&M, Moore was first viewed as a developmental prospect, possibly taking a redshirt season. Moore played well in the preseason, beating Joe Haeg for the swing tackle role. When Zach Banner went on injured reserve, the team moved Chuk Okorofor to right tackle and gave Moore his shot at left tackle. Through five games, Moore has proven himself a mauler in both phases in the game. His grade has been upgraded to be at least starter quality, with upside for more. The Steelers' line checks in at 23rd before their home matchup against a vulnerable Seattle defense.

Miami up 2

Could this latest shuffle be the winner? With Austin Jackson struggling mightily at left tackle, the team moved rookie Liam Eichenberg to the blind side, and slid Austin Jackson inside to left guard. Jesse Davis, the glue-guy of this unit, retook his right tackle position. The team took their lumps last week against a strong Tampa Bay defense, but they have a favorable match-up this weekend in London against Jacksonville. The Dolphins' line is still reeling from cohesion changes, but they are trending upward, 27th in this week's rankings.

DOWNGRADES

Cleveland down 8

The number one line all season has finally caught the injury bug. Most concerning, All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin was forced from the loss against the LA Chargers with a knee injury. The team sent Conklin for an MRI on Monday but the results haven't been announced and Conklin has not been practicing this week. James Hudson, a fourth-round pick out of Cincinnati (and Michigan transfer) replaced Conklin last week and Hudson could get the nod again this week against a strong Arizona defensive front. The team could also use Blake Hance at the position, assuming that Jedrick Wills (limited in practice with an ankle injury) is good to go after a week off. With swing tackle Chris Hubbard on IR after opting for season-ending triceps surgery, their depth is being tested. The Browns' line falls to 9th in the latest rankings.

Jacksonville down 4

Center Brandon Linder was placed on IR this week with multiple injuries: a knee sprain and a high ankle sprain. Tyler Shatley replaced Linder in the game and the team also signed Rashad Coward, most recently of Pittsburgh, for some depth. Shatley is one of the most long-tenured backups in the league, serving seven seasons as the Jaguars' backup center and starting 25 games in that time, almost all in the relief of Linder. Still, there is a noticeable drop-off between the two players, and this could be a surprisingly tough matchup in London against the Miami defensive front. Still, they rank 14th in the current grades.

Arizona down 14

This downgrade is all about center Rodney Hudson, who was forced from last week's road win over San Francisco with a rib injury. Max Garcia replaced Hudson in the contest, and with Hudson not practicing this week, Garcia could get the call at a talented Cleveland defensive front seven. Few free agent additions have brought more to their team this season than Hudson, and without this player, their grade falls from excellent to merely decent, 19th in this week's rankings.

Washington down 3

Rookie right tackle Sam Cosmi was forced from last week's loss against New Orleans with an ankle injury. Cornelius Lucas replaced Cosmi and saw 71% of snaps against the Saints. With All-Pro right guard Brandon Scherff still not practicing due to a knee injury, the right side this week against Kansas City could be Wes Schweitzer and Lucas. The Football Team's line started the year hot but has fallen in the last two weeks due to injury. They check in at 20th overall, still floating just below the league average.

Chicago down 7

Right tackle Germain Ifedi was placed on injured reserve this week with a hip flexor. Elijah Wilkinson replaced Ifedi in the game and will likely get the call this week in a difficult road matchup at Green Bay. Wilkinson is actually a borderline starter at right tackle and has almost no difference in individual grade from Ifedi. It's just a matter of cohesion, as Wilkinson familiarizes himself with this team. With Larry Borom still on the injured reserve with a high ankle sprain, along with rookie Tevin Jenkins, the Bears' offensive line doesn't have the wiggle room for more injuries. They grade 29th in this week's rankings.

Houston down 20

How does a team fall twenty slots in one week? Well, losing both tackles to significant injuries will do it. Right tackle Marcus Cannon was placed on injured reserve with a lingering back injury just prior to the loss against New England. Charlie Heck replaced Cannon in the lineup and will likely do so going forward. Heck is a decent prospect, the son of current Chiefs' offensive line coach Andy Heck. The worse issue is at left tackle, where arguably the team's best player Laremy Tunsil may miss a month with a thumb injury. Geron Christian replaced Tunsil in the game. Christian is a marginal starter at best, and he will see at least a month worth of starts. The Texans' offensive line drops to 32nd prior to hosting a feisty Indianapolis defensive front.

TEAMS WITH BYE WEEKS - ATL, NOS, NYJ, SFO

OTHER NEWS

BAL - Rookie LG Ben Cleveland was placed on injured reserve this week with a knee injury. The injury is believed to not be season-ending, so we could see Cleveland rotating with Ben Powers down the stretch.

CIN - Just some housekeeping as RG Xavier S'ua-Filo to IR (knee). Jackson Carman has taken S'ua-Filo's spot and not looked back. In other-other news, center Trey Hopkins has been resting his knee in practice but has seen 100% of snaps this season.

DET - More housekeeping, C Frank Ragnow's toe injury is believed to be season-ending.

IND - RT Braden Smith (foot thumb) is still missing from practice. Backup Matt Pryor saw 100% of snaps during the MNF loss against BAL.

KCC - Signed Prince Tega Wanagho from their taxi squad.

LAC - RG Oday Aboushi to IR (ACL) - Michael Schofield replaced him during the win over CLE, and the team signed Senio Kelemete this week. This would normally be some kind of downgrade but with the rest of the line playing so well, Schofield's extensive experience as a Charger, and seemingly every other team getting hurt, the Chargers' line actually ends up 3 slots.

MIN - Rookie LT Christian Darrisaw saw his first game action and rotated in for 28 snaps last week against DET. Rashod Hill has been starting and allowing pressure in pass protection. Look for Darrisaw to send Hill to the bench permanently, as early as this week against CAR.

NEP - The Patriots' line is still in shambles, as RT Trent Brown to IR (calf) and RG Shaq Mason (abdomen) is still not practicing. The team could in theory get LT Isaiah Wynn and LG Mike Onwenu off the COVID list prior to the home game against DAL, but they are not practicing this week and are held out of the ranks for now.

NYG - LT Andrew Thomas missed Week 5 (foot) and didn't play Wednesday. Still, coaches have been optimistic about his availability this week against the LA Rams, and Thomas is included in the ranks. Without him, Matt Peart played RT and Nate Solder struggled at LT. At LG Matt Skura started but played less than half of the snaps against DAL. Wes Martin played the bulk of the contest. Look for Martin or Ben Bredeson to see reps this weekend.

NO - This team is on a bye week but they could have help returning soon as both LT Terron Armstead and C Erik McCoy are eligible to return from IR after the bye.

TBB - C Ryan Jensen is officially questionable prior to the Thursday Night Football game against Philadelphia with a hip injury, but he has been practicing in full and is included in this week's ranks.

TEN - LG Rodger Saffold (shoulder - not in ranks) was forced from last week's game. The team signed Corey Levin who played 27 snaps for Saffold. In addition, Swing tackle Ty Sambrailo unexpectedly retired last week. This would normally amount to a downgrade, but with all the other traffic in the rankings, and Saffold getting an extra day before facing the Bills on MNF, the Titans' line stays at 25th overall

FULL RANKINGS