Photo: Ken Blaze, USA Today Sports

Upgrades

Cleveland up 8

After sitting out two games and the bye week, All-Pro right guard Wyatt Teller (calf) returned to practice this week. Teller missed a month with a similar ailment last year, and Week 10 would mark four weeks for this year's version of the rehab. While Hjalte Froholdt (Danish national, former Arkansas fourth-round pick) has been fine the last few weeks, there's a real edge to the lineup when Teller is in the game. Ideally, we'd want Teller to practice in full, not in a limited fashion, but still, the trend lines are pointing toward Teller's return in the near future, either this week or next. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan deserves a great deal of credit for developing the talent in Cleveland. Overall, the Browns' offensive line ranks third with Teller in the starters, and it's a decent matchup for this week's away game at Miami.

Green Bay up 10

Left guard Elgton Jenkins (knee) returned to the lineup last week and played 100 percent of snaps in the loss against Detroit. It was a rough game in terms of injuries, as right guard Jon Runyan (knee) and left tackle David Bakhtiari (knee) both were injured but then returned to the contest. Zach Tom replaced Runyan and has proven to be a decent and versatile backup this season. There are obviously a ton of problems with the Green Bay offense right now, but it's not clear that the offensive line is really among them. Assuming Jenkins, Runyan and Bakhtiari are all good to go (and granted, that's a ton of optimistic assumption), the Packers' line grades 6th before facing a tough Dallas defensive front this week.

Washington up 5

With right guard Saahdiq Charles limited by a non-Covid illness, veteran Trai Turner got the start against Minnesota and played 100 percent of snaps this week. Although the coaches have often preferred the younger and more athletic Charles over Turner this season, there is something to be said for Turner's experience. Usually, it's a downgrade when there's a starter out, but Turner's return represents a modest upgrade as far as the model is concerned. With Charles quickly recovering and Sam Cosmi trying to break back into the lineup after his thumb surgery, there's no telling if this lineup change will last, or if Turner's start was just a one time thing. But assuming Turner will get another chance this week, the Commanders rank 16th before facing Philadelphia on Monday Night Football.

Denver up 5

Despite having the bye week to recover, center Lloyd Cushenberry (groin) was placed on the injured reserve list this week and has to miss a month. Usually, this type of news would land a squad in the downgrades pile, but Graham Glasgow is probably the best interior offensive lineman in the league without a starting spot. In both the run and the pass game, Glasgow represents a small upgrade over Cushenberry, and therefore the line as a whole gets a small bump this week. Although right tackle Cam Fleming is still likely out with a quad injury, the tackle duo of Calvin Anderson and Billy Turner have held up well of late. The Broncos' line grades 17th before facing a difficult Tennessee defensive front on the road.

Chicago up 3

Left guard Cody Whitehair (knee) returned from the injured reserve and played 100 percent of snaps in last week's high-scoring loss against Miami. While this Bears' unit hasn't been great this season, it's noticeably better with Whitehair in the lineup than without him. With Whitehair's return, veteran utility player Michael Schofield returns to the bench. The Bears' offensive line still doesn't grade highly, but they do rank 27th before facing an extremely leaky Lions' defensive front at home.

Downgrades

New Orleans down 2

Right guard Erik McCoy (calf) only made it through 18 snaps of Monday Night Football before leaving the game. McCoy has not practiced this week, and his status appears doubtful for the weekend. Calvin Throckmorton replaced McCoy in the game, but it's possible that Throckmorton will be needed at his usual left guard spot with Andrus Peat not practicing with a triceps injury. Peat is still in the model, but there's a very real chance he could miss time against Pittsburgh, in which case Lewis Kidd would see reps again. This uncertainty at both guard positions only knocks the Saints' offensive line down to fifth overall, but this weekend could be a tough spot for them, a dome team outside facing T.J. Watt in his return from the injured list.

Indianapolis down 5

This is a tough one to predict. Last week, Colts' head coach Frank Reich had sort of a preseason thing going on, benching right guard Matt Pryor after 12 snaps and giving Will Fries the remainder of the reps against New England. Usual left tackle Dennis Kelly was also benched, and rookie Bernard Rainmann took 100 percent of snaps at left tackle. Of course, there's a new interim head coach this week in Jeff Saturday (former Colts center, with very little coaching experience), so it's not clear if Reich's lineup changes will persist. Starting the veterans, this group ranks about eighth. But if the lineup looks like last week's, the Colts offensive line would fall to 13th overall before facing Las Vegas on the road.

Atlanta down 5

Left guard Elijah Wilkinson (knee) was placed on the injured reserve list before last week's close loss against the Chargers. Wilkinson has been an underrated addition this season, winning the guard job this summer after being signed as a swing tackle. Center Matt Hennessy replaced Wilkinson for most of the game, but then Hennessy was forced out with a knee injury of his own. Colby Gossett finished out the game for Hennessy. It's not entirely clear who will start this week on Thursday Night Football, as Hennessy participated in practice in a limited fashion and is expected to be active for the game. Besides Gossett, Chuma Edoga is another option, reportedly splitting reps with Gossett in practice. All of these options are downgrades to Wilkinson, and the Falcons' offensive line grades 18th in the latest ranks.

New England down 4

Right tackle Marcus Cannon was placed on injured reserve this week with a concussion. Yodny Cajuste took 100 percent of snaps for Cannon and even though the team has a bye to consider their options, Cajuste will likely be the starter in two weeks against a rugged Jets' defensive front. Isaiah Wynn, who has been the right tackle in the past, has been moved to left guard, where he is dominating rookie Cole Strange's reps at a ratio of 3:1. The signing of Cannon was always a short-term option, as he's been injury prone throughout his long career. Wynn could move back to right tackle, and Mike Onwenu is another option. With still no sign of David Andrews at practice, leaving James Ferentz to start at center, the Patriots offensive line grades 23rd in the current tally.

Other News

ARZ - Rough week for Arizona. Lots of DNP - Kelvin Beachum (illness, knee), Rodney Hudson (knee), Cody Ford (illness), Max Garcia (shoulder). LT D.J. Humphries did play last week (back), but left guard Will Hernandez (chest) only played nine snaps and appears doubtful for this week. Lecitus Smith replaced Hernandez last week and played the final 54 snaps. This reads like a downgrade but there's no rank lower than 32nd.

BUF - RT Spencer Brown is still limited in practice with his ankle sprain, which is an improvement in his status from recent weeks. The team might need him sooner rather than later, as substitute David Quessenberry has been limited with a groin injury this week. Still, the model has Quessenberry starting for Brown for another week.

HOU - C Justin McCray (concussion) is finally practicing in full and could get the start this week over Scott Quessenberry. If there is a difference between these players, McCray is better by the slightest of margins. But the possible return of the veteran is not enough to move the needle in the rankings.

LAC - RT Trey Pipkins knee was forced from the game for the final drive and has not practiced this week. Storm Norton replaced Pipkins in the game and will likely get another start this week. The fanbase hates Norton but these players carry similar grades in the model.

LAR - The team signed Chandler Brewer before last week's game, and he played 100 percent of RG snaps. LT Aleric Jackson (knee, DNP) missed six snaps (Ty Nsekhe replaced). It's not clear if Jackson will be able to go this week, but he's still in the model for now.

MIN - C Garrett Bradbury missed two snaps last week, and Austin Schlottman briefly replaced him. Bradbury is still in the model this week.

NYG - Still no sign of RT Evan Neal (knee) at practice. An upgrade is waiting for the Giants' offensive line when he returns. But it's not likely to happen this week.

SEA - RG Gabe Jackson and Phil Haynes are still splitting reps equally. Both have an impact in the run game, and we could be witnessing a changing of the guard from Jackson to Haynes.

TBB - LG Nick Leverett is still starting for Luke Goedeke (foot).

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