After a 2022 rule change, teams can activate up to eight players from injured reserve. That has reintroduced some strategy into how franchises proceed with their activations, and teams will again need to be cognizant of their activation counts in 2023.
The NFL had reintroduced IR-return options in the 2010s, after a period in which an IR move meant a player’s season was over. But the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the league to loosen restrictions on IR from 2020-21. Teams were permitted to use unlimited activations to start the decade, but roster math is again a consideration.
Players who land on IR after cutdown day must miss at least four games. Once a team designates a player for return, the activation clock starts. Clubs have 21 days from a player’s return-to-practice date to activate that player. If no activation commences in that window, the player reverts to season-ending IR.
Here is how Week 10’s IR situations look:
Arizona Cardinals
Eligible for activation:
- DL L.J. Collier
- RB James Conner
- DL Carlos Watkins
Activations remaining: 6
Atlanta Falcons
Eligible for activation:
- WR Josh Ali
- LB Troy Andersen; second-year defender uncertain to return this season
Activations remaining: 8
Baltimore Ravens
Activated:
- CB Daryl Worley
Eligible for activation:
- LB Malik Hamm
- OLB David Ojabo (story)
- CB Ar’Darius Washington
- CB Damarion Williams
Activations remaining: 5
Buffalo Bills
Eligible for activation:
- DT DaQuan Jones; uncertain to return this season
- LB Matt Milano; uncertain to return this season
- WR Justin Shorter
Activations remaining: 7
Carolina Panthers
Designated for return:
- DE Marquis Haynes (Nov. 6)
Eligible for activation:
- CB Jaycee Horn (story)
- LB Shaq Thompson; ninth-year veteran not ruling out return from broken leg
Activations remaining: 7
Chicago Bears
Activated:
- LT Braxton Jones (story)
Designated for return:
- CB Josh Blackwell (Nov. 6)
- RB Khalil Herbert (Nov. 6)
- WR Equanimeous St. Brown (Nov. 6)
Activations remaining: 3
Cincinnati Bengals
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 8
Cleveland Browns
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 8
Dallas Cowboys
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 7
Denver Broncos
Eligible for activation:
- OL Alex Palczewski
- CB K’Waun Williams; unlikely to return this season
Activations remaining: 6
Detroit Lions
Eligible for activation:
- FB Jason Cabinda
- S C.J. Gardner-Johnson; DB aiming for late-season return
- DE James Houston (story)
- OL Matt Nelson; lineman uncertain to return this season
Activations remaining: 5
Green Bay Packers
Eligible for activation:
- OL Luke Tenuta
Activations remaining: 8
Houston Texans
Eligible for activation:
- C Juice Scruggs
- CB Derek Stingley Jr. (story)
Activations remaining: 4
Indianapolis Colts
Eligible for activation:
- TE Jelani Woods
Activations remaining: 8
Jacksonville Jaguars
Designated for return:
- CB Gregory Junior (Oct. 23)
Eligible for activation:
- OL Cooper Hodges
- WR Parker Washington
Activations remaining: 7
Kansas City Chiefs
Designated for return:
- WR Richie James (Nov. 1)
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 8
Las Vegas Raiders
Eligible for activation:
- CB Brandon Facyson (story)
Activations remaining: 7
Los Angeles Chargers
Eligible for activation: none
Activations remaining: 8
Los Angeles Rams
Designated for return:
- TE Hunter Long (Oct. 25)
Eligible for activation:
- DL Bobby Brown (story)
- CB Jason Taylor II
Activations remaining: 6
Miami Dolphins
Activated:
- LT Terron Armstead (story)
Designated for return:
- WR River Cracraft (Oct. 25)
Activations remaining: 4
Minnesota Vikings
Activated:
- WR Jalen Nailor
Eligible for activation:
- WR Justin Jefferson (story)
- QB Nick Mullens (story)
Activations remaining: 6
New England Patriots
Eligible for activation:
- DL Daniel Ekuale
- OLB Matt Judon; uncertain to return this season
- OL Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
Activations remaining: 5
New Orleans Saints
Eligible for activation:
- FB Adam Prentice
- DE Payton Turner (story)
Activations remaining: 7
New York Giants
Eligible for activation:
- OLB Azeez Ojulari (story)
Activations remaining: 8
New York Jets
Designated for return:
- LT Duane Brown (Nov. 2)
Eligible for activation:
- QB Aaron Rodgers; team expecting late-season return despite Achilles tear
- TE Kenny Yeboah
Activations remaining: 7
Philadelphia Eagles
Designated for return:
- OL Cam Jurgens (Nov. 1)
Eligible for activation:
- S Justin Evans
- CB Avonte Maddox; slot defender uncertain to return after torn pec
- WR Quez Watkins
Activations remaining: 7
Pittsburgh Steelers
Activated:
- DL Cameron Heyward (story)
Designated for return:
- RB Anthony McFarland (Oct. 16)
Activations remaining: 6
San Francisco 49ers
Eligible for activation:
- DE Robert Beal
- WR Danny Gray
- CB Samuel Womack
Activations remaining: 8
Seattle Seahawks
Designated for return:
- RB Kenny McIntosh (Oct. 25)
Eligible for activation:
- DB Coby Bryant
- RT Abraham Lucas (story)
- WR Dareke Young
Activations remaining: 8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Eligible for activation: none
Activations remaining: 7
Tennessee Titans
Designated for return:
- S Mike Brown (Oct. 30)
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 7
Washington Commanders
Eligible for activation:
- S Darrick Forrest (story)
- WR Dax Milne
Activations remaining: 6