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.
Week 5 represents the season’s first activation window, and teams are taking advantage of it early. Here is how this week’s IR situations look:
Arizona Cardinals
Eligible for activation:
- OL Dennis Daley
- OLB Myjai Sanders
Activations remaining: 8
Atlanta Falcons
Eligible for activation: none
Activations remaining: 8
Baltimore Ravens
Eligible for activation:
- LB Malik Hamm
- RB Keaton Mitchell
- CB Damarion Williams
Activations remaining: 8
Buffalo Bills
Eligible for activation:
- WR Justin Shorter
- LB Baylon Spector
Activations remaining: 8
Carolina Panthers
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 8
Chicago Bears
Designated for return:
- G Teven Jenkins (story)
Eligible for activation:
- OL Doug Kramer
Activations remaining: 8
Cincinnati Bengals
Eligible for activation: none
Activations remaining: 8
Cleveland Browns
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 8
Dallas Cowboys
Eligible for activation:
- OL Matt Waletzko
- DB Nahshon Wright
Activations remaining: 8
Denver Broncos
Eligible for activation:
- DB P.J. Locke
- OL Alex Palczewski
- CB K’Waun Williams
Activations remaining: 8
Detroit Lions
Designated for return:
- DE Julian Okwara (story)
Activations remaining: 8
Green Bay Packers
Eligible for activation:
- OL Luke Tenuta
Activations remaining: 8
Houston Texans
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 8
Indianapolis Colts
Eligible for activation:
- TE Jelani Woods
Activations remaining: 8
Jacksonville Jaguars
Eligible for activation:
- DT DaVon Hamilton (story)
- OL Cooper Hodges
Activations remaining: 8
Kansas City Chiefs
Eligible for activation: none
Activations remaining: 8
Las Vegas Raiders
Eligible for activation:
- CB Brandon Facyson (story)
Activations remaining: 8
Los Angeles Chargers
Eligible for activation: none
Activations remaining: 8
Los Angeles Rams
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 8
Miami Dolphins
Eligible for activation:
- OL Robert Jones
- CB Jalen Ramsey; not expected to be activated until season’s second half
- RB Jeff Wilson (story)
Activations remaining: 8
Minnesota Vikings
Eligible for activation:
- RB Kene Nwangwu
Activations remaining: 8
New England Patriots
Eligible for activation:
- CB Jack Jones (story)
- T Riley Reiff (story)
- WR Tyquan Thornton
Activations remaining: 8
New Orleans Saints
Eligible for activation: none
Activations remaining: 8
New York Giants
Eligible for activation: none
Activations remaining: 8
New York Jets
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 8
Philadelphia Eagles
Eligible for activation: none
Activations remaining: 8
Pittsburgh Steelers
Eligible for activation: none
Activations remaining: 8
San Francisco 49ers
Eligible for activation:
- DE Robert Beal
- WR Danny Gray
Activations remaining: 8
Seattle Seahawks
Eligible for activation:
- WR Dareke Young
Activations remaining: 8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Eligible for activation: none
Activations remaining: 8
Tennessee Titans
Designated for return:
- WR Kyle Philips
Activations remaining: 8
Washington Commanders
Eligible for activation:
- DT Phidarian Mathis (story)
- WR Dax Milne
- DE Efe Obada (story)
Activations remaining: 8