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Upgrades

Seattle up 5

The good news in Seattle is that the group is getting healthier. During their home win over the NY Giants, right guard Gabe Jackson got the start, his first since Week 5. Jackson has been limited by hip and knee ailments. Phil Haynes, who had missed time for a concussion, spelled Gabe Jackson during the game and ended up with more snaps, a 3:2 rotation. In other news, usual center Austin Blythe missed time with a knee injury and has been limited in practice. Kyle Fuller replaced Blythe in the game and played well. Fuller and Blythe grade out nearly equally in the model. It all adds up to a five-spot upgrade and the group grades at 25th before traveling to Arizona for a decent matchup against the Cardinals' defensive front seven.

Green Bay up 8

Mixed news from Green Bay as left guard Elgton Jenkins missed last week's game against Buffalo with knee and foot injuries. Jenkins has not practiced this week, and it looks like rookie Zach Tom (fourth round, Vanderbilt) will get another start. Why is this an upgrade? Because left tackle David Bakhtiari (knee) returned to action and played 100 percent of snaps. Bakhtiari told reporters that he wasn't sure what version of his knee will show up from week to week, but lately, the trend line has been up. I've been burnt by Bakhtiari's health status before, but all systems are a go for a choice matchup against Detroit this week. The Packers' offensive line ranks 16th in this week's grades.

Denver up 1

This is more of a housekeeping upgrade, as last week, Billy Turner shifted to his natural right tackle position, and Calvin Anderson swapped back to his left tackle spot. Turner has 85 games started playing on the right side, and the model likes it when players don't have to try new things. Calvin Anderson has been struggling in place of Garret Bolles, but he tends to struggle less at left tackle. In other news, Graham Glasgow replaced Lloyd Cushenberry at the center spot after Cushenberry was hurt in London. The team has not released the injury status for Cushenberry, as the team is on a bye week. But truthfully, the model has a higher grade on Glasgow anyway. Glasgow is by far the best interior lineman in the league without a starting position, but his promotion has not been made official, so he's not in the model. Check back in two weeks to see how this all unfolds, but in the meantime, the Broncos' offensive line grades out as 22nd, with room for another upgrade heading into the bye.

Tennessee up 5

Right guard Nate Davis returned to action during the Week 8 win over Houston, his first start since Week 4. Davis' impact was apparent, especially in the rushing attack where Derrick Henry and the other Titans' skill spots combined for 165 yards on the ground. More importantly, Davis' return allowed the team to hide Dillon Radunz on the bench again. Coaches have high hope for Radunz, the former second-round pick out of North Dakota State, but his development is taking longer than everyone expected. In other news, left guard Aaron Brewer has been limited in practice with a toe injury, but as Brewer played 100 percent of snaps last week, he remains in the model. The Titans grade as 26th before facing a tough Kansas City front on the road on Sunday Night Football.

Downgrades

Cincinnati down 4

This is a general downgrade due to the play of left tackle Jonah Williams. Usually, Williams grades well above average, a B+ player. He's not flashy, but he usually gets the job done. However, Williams has been playing with a gruesome knee dislocation injury in the last few weeks, affecting his play. I'm not exactly sure how this player is functional, as this is usually a multiple-month, if not season-ending, setback. Williams got worked over by Myles Garrett last week on Sunday Night Football, and even though Garrett does this to everyone, it's hard to see Williams recovering during the season without rest or some medical miracle. If the model graded on toughness, this would be an upgrade. But with their left tackle struggling, the Bengals' line drops to 9th before facing a feisty Panthers' defensive front.

Miami down 2

Left guard Liam Eichenberg was forced from the game with a knee injury and placed on injured reserve. Second-year player Robert Jones (undrafted, Middle Tennessee) replaced Eichenberg in the game and will likely get his second career start this weekend at Chicago. It's not all bad news out of Miami, as left tackle Terron Armstead played 100 percent of last week's snaps with his toe injury, and the team activated Austin Jackson from the reserve list. Jackson still appears to be multiple games away with ankle and calf injuries, but his return means that right tackle Brandon Shell could find the bench soon enough. Shell is in the model, despite being limited by a groin injury. It's a slight downgrade for the group, who grade 18th before facing a vulnerable Bears' defensive front.

Arizona down 4

This downgrade is based on the news that left D.J. Humphries (back) could not play last week against Minnesota. Humphries has not practiced this week and appears unlikely to go when the Cardinals host Seattle. Josh Jones saw 100 percent of the snaps at left tackle in his place. Jones is a decent prospect, but there is a noticeable downgrade. In other news, center Billy Price was run over on multiple occasions by Vikings defensive end ZaDarius Smith last week. Of all the injuries, the absence of Rodney Hudson and Max Garcia at center hurts their grade more than the injury at left tackle. Unfortunately, someone's got to grade 32nd in the model, and it's the Cardinals this week.

Other News

ATL - LG Elijah Wilkinson did not practice due to a knee injury, but he did play 100 percent of snaps against CAR so he is still in the model. This Falcons group doesn't get a ton of press, but they are a steady performer.

BUF - RT Spencer Brown has been limited with an ankle in practice. Brown was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain, so we are cautious before including him in the model. Without Brown, the Bills rank 10th, but with him, they grade closer to 6th. Either way, it's a tough matchup against the Jets' defensive front this week.

CHI - RT Larry Borom is still not practicing and is in the league's concussion protocol. Riley Reiff is starting in his place. Teven Jenkins appeared on the injury report, limited with a back problem. Jenkins is still in the model.

CLE - RT Jack Conklin missed a few snaps last week; Michael Dunn replaced. Conklin is still in the model, but his situation bears observation. In other-other news, the team added Joe Haeg to injured reserve, but they have plenty of depth.

DAL - LG Connor McGovern rotated 4:1 with Jason Peters last week. It's not clear if McGovern is injured, but if he is, the team has a bye week to lick their wounds.

HOU - C Justin McCray has a concussion and is out for Thursday Night Football. Scott Quessenberry remains in the model.

IND - LT Dennis Kelly played 100 percent of snaps last week but has not practiced with calf and ankle injuries this week. Kelly is still in the model.

LAR - C Brian Allen played 100 percent of snaps last week but has not practiced with a knee injury this week. Allen is still in the model. The Rams have seen a ton of injuries this season, as evidenced by Oday Aboushi playing the entire game against San Francisco at right guard.

LVR - RT Jermaine Eluemunor and Thayer Munford continue to split reps 1:1. The team signed Jackson Barton.

NEP - Mike Onwenu shifted to RT when Marcus Cannon missed five snaps. Cannon returned to the game. LG Cole Strange was part-time benched for Isaiah Wynn during last week's win over the Jets.

NOS - LG Andrus Peat has retaken his starting job and played 100 percent of the snaps last week in the win over Las Vegas. Calvin Throckmorton also returned to action as an extra lineman. The days of Lewis Kidd getting guard reps appear to be over (for now).

NYG - LG Ben Bredeson was officially played on IR. Rookie Josh Ezeudu (third round, North Carolina) will have the job from now on. The team is on a bye week.

SFO - LG Spencer Buford and Daniel Brunskill continue to split reps 3:2 in favor of Burford. The team is on a bye week.

WAS - C Tyler Larsen (back) returned to action. At RT, the team has stuck with Cornelius Lucas, despite Sam Cosmi not being listed on the injury report. Cosmi has a significant club on his hand as he's recovering from thumb surgery. Still, Cosmi could get reps at guard this week for Saahdiq Charles, who reportedly lost weight due to a non-COVID illness.