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 8’s IR situations look:
Arizona Cardinals
Eligible for activation:
- DL L.J. Collier
- DL Carlos Watkins
Activations remaining: 6
Atlanta Falcons
Eligible for activation:
- LB Troy Andersen ; second-year defender uncertain to return this season
Activations remaining: 8
Baltimore Ravens
Eligible for activation:
- LB Malik Hamm
- OLB David Ojabo ; second-year pass rusher’s season in jeopardy
- WR Tylan Wallace
- CB Ar’Darius Washington
- CB Damarion Williams
Activations remaining: 7
Buffalo Bills
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 7
Carolina Panthers
Eligible for activation:
- DE Marquis Haynes
- CB Jaycee Horn (story )
- LB Shaq Thompson ; ninth-year veteran not ruling out return from broken leg
Activations remaining: 7
Chicago Bears
Eligible for activation:
- CB Josh Blackwell
- LT Braxton Jones (story )
- DL Khalid Kareem
Activations remaining: 5
Cincinnati Bengals
Eligible for activation: none
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 (story )
Activations remaining: 6
Detroit Lions
Eligible for activation:
- 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:
- DT Hassan Ridgeway (story )
- C Juice Scruggs
- CB Derek Stingley Jr. (story )
Activations remaining: 5
Indianapolis Colts
Eligible for activation:
- TE Jelani Woods
Activations remaining: 8
Jacksonville Jaguars
Designated for return:
- DT DaVon Hamilton (Oct. 12 )
- CB Gregory Junior (Oct. 23)
Eligible for activation:
- OL Cooper Hodges
Activations remaining: 8
Kansas City Chiefs
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 8
Las Vegas Raiders
Eligible for activation:
- LB Curtis Bolton
- CB Brandon Facyson (story )
Activations remaining: 8
Los Angeles Chargers
Eligible for activation: none
Activations remaining: 8
Los Angeles Rams
Eligible for activation:
- TE Hunter Long
- CB Jason Taylor II
Activations remaining: 6
Miami Dolphins
Designated for return:
- CB Jalen Ramsey (Oct. 18 )
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 6
Minnesota Vikings
Designated for return:
- WR Jalen Nailor (Oct. 18 )
Activated:
- RB Kene Nwangwu (story )
Activations remaining: 7
New England Patriots
Eligible for activation:
- CB Marcus Jones (story )
Eligible for activation:
Activations remaining: 5
New Orleans Saints
Eligible for activation:
- DE Payton Turner (story )
Activations remaining: 7
New York Giants
Eligible for activation: none
Activations remaining: 8
New York Jets
Eligible for activation:
- LT Duane Brown (story )
- QB Aaron Rodgers ; aiming to return this season despite Achilles tear
- TE Kenny Yeboah
Activations remaining: 7
Philadelphia Eagles
Eligible for activation:
- CB Avonte Maddox ; slot defender uncertain to return after torn pec
Activations remaining: 7
Pittsburgh Steelers
Designated for return:
- RB Anthony McFarland (Oct. 16 )
Eligible for activation:
- DL Cameron Heyward (story )
Activations remaining: 7
San Francisco 49ers
Eligible for activation:
- DE Robert Beal
- WR Danny Gray
- CB Samuel Womack
Activations remaining: 8
Seattle Seahawks
Eligible for activation:
- RT Abraham Lucas (story )
- RB Kenny McIntosh
- WR Dareke Young
Activations remaining: 8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Designated for return:
- RB Chase Edmonds (Oct. 23 )
Activations remaining: 8
Tennessee Titans
Eligible for activation:
- S Mike Brown
- RB Julius Chestnut
- WR Kearis Jackson
Activations remaining: 7
Washington Commanders
Eligible for activation:
- DT Phidarian Mathis (story )
- WR Dax Milne
Activations remaining: 7