Week 12 Injured Reserve Return Tracker

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 the NFL’s IR situations look for Week 12:

Arizona Cardinals

Eligible for activation:

• DL L.J. Collier
• TE Zach Ertz (story)
• DL Carlos Watkins
• OL Elijah Wilkinson

Activations remaining: 5

Atlanta Falcons

Eligible for activation:

• WR Josh Ali
• LB Troy Andersen; uncertain to return this season

Activations remaining: 8

Baltimore Ravens

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:

• RB Damien Harris (story)
• DT DaQuan Jones; uncertain to return this season
• TE Dawson Knox (story)
• LB Matt Milano; uncertain to return this season
• WR Justin Shorter

Activations remaining: 7

Carolina Panthers

Activated: 

• TE Ian Thomas (story)

Designated for return:

• CB Jaycee Horn (Nov. 13)

Eligible for activation:

• S Jeremy Chinn (story)
• DE Yetur Gross-Matos (story)
• TE Giovanni Ricci (story)
• LB Shaq Thompson; ninth-year veteran not ruling out return from broken leg

Activations remaining: 6

Chicago Bears

Activated:

• RB Khalil Herbert (story)

Activations remaining: 0

Cincinnati Bengals

Activated:

• WR Charlie Jones 

Designated for return:

• RB Chase Brown (Nov. 20)

Activations remaining: 7

Cleveland Browns

Activated:

• G Michael Dunn

Eligible for activation:

• LB Jordan Kunaszyk

Activations remaining: 7

Dallas Cowboys

Designated for return:

• TE Peyton Hendershot (Nov. 15)

Eligible for activation:

• CB C.J. Goodwin
• OL Matt Waletzko

Activations remaining: 7

Denver Broncos

Eligible for activation:

• TE Greg Dulcich (story)
• 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; uncertain to return this season

Activations remaining: 5

Green Bay Packers

Designated for return:

• S Darnell Savage (Nov. 20)

Eligible for activation: 

• CB Eric Stokes (story)
• OL Luke Tenuta

Activations remaining: 8

Houston Texans

Eligible for activation:

• S Eric Murray (story)
• C Juice Scruggs

Activations remaining: 2

Indianapolis Colts

Eligible for activation:

• TE Jelani Woods

Activations remaining: 8

Jacksonville Jaguars

Activated:

• WR Parker Washington (story)

Eligible for activation:

• CB Christian Braswell
• OL Cooper Hodges

Activations remaining: 5

Kansas City Chiefs

Activated:

• WR Richie James

Eligible for activation:

• OL Prince Tega Wanogho

Activations remaining: 7

Las Vegas Raiders

Designated for return: 

• S Roderic Teamer (Nov. 15)

Eligible for activation:

• CB Brandon Facyson (story)
• LB Kana’i Mauga

Activations remaining: 7

Los Angeles Chargers

Eligible for activation: none

Activations remaining: 8

Los Angeles Rams

Activated:

• DL Bobby Brown
• TE Hunter Long

Eligible for activation:

• RB Ronnie Rivers (story)
• CB Jason Taylor II
• RB Kyren Williams (story)

Activations remaining: 4

Miami Dolphins

Activated:

• RB De’Von Achane (story)
• WR River Cracraft

Eligible for activation:

• RB Chris Brooks

Activations remaining: 2

Minnesota Vikings

Activated:

• QB Nick Mullens (story)

Designated for return:

• WR Justin Jefferson (Nov. 8)

Eligible for activation:

• OLB Marcus Davenport; late-season return in play

Activations remaining: 5

New England Patriots

Designated for return:

• T Riley Reiff (Nov. 15)

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:

• DE Payton Turner (story)

Activations remaining: 6

New York Giants

Eligible for activation:

• RB Gary Brightwell
• OL Joshua Ezeudu
• RB Eric Gray
• T Matt Peart

Activations remaining: 7

New York Jets

Designated for return:

• LT Duane Brown (Nov. 2)
• TE Kenny Yeboah (Nov. 15)

Eligible for activation:

• CB Justin Hardee
• QB Aaron Rodgers; team expecting late-season return despite Achilles tear

Activations remaining: 7

Philadelphia Eagles

Activated:

• OL Cam Jurgens (story)

Designated for return:

• S Justin Evans (Nov. 13)

Eligible for activation:

• CB Avonte Maddox; uncertain to return after torn pec
• WR Quez Watkins

Activations remaining: 6

Pittsburgh Steelers

Activated:

• TE Pat Freiermuth (story)

Activations remaining: 4

San Francisco 49ers

Designated for return:

• DE Robert Beal (Nov. 6)
• CB Samuel Womack (Nov. 6)

Eligible for activation:

• WR Danny Gray

Activations remaining: 8

Seattle Seahawks

Designated for return:

• DB Coby Bryant (Nov. 20)
• RT Abraham Lucas (Nov. 15)

Activations remaining: 6

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Eligible for activation: none

Activations remaining: 7

Tennessee Titans

Activated:

• S Mike Brown

Eligible for activation:

• RB Julius Chestnut
• WR Kearis Jackson

Activations remaining: 6

Washington Commanders

Designated for return: 

• LB Cody Barton (Nov. 20)

Eligible for activation:

• OL Saahdiq Charles
• S Darrick Forrest (story)
• WR Dax Milne

Activations remaining: 6