Week 11 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 11:

Arizona Cardinals

Activated:

• RB James Conner (story)

Eligible for activation:

• DL L.J. Collier
• DL Carlos Watkins

Activations remaining: 5

Atlanta Falcons

Eligible for activation:

• WR Josh Ali
• 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 (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
• LB Matt Milano; uncertain to return this season
• WR Justin Shorter

Activations remaining: 7

Carolina Panthers

Designated for return:

• CB Jaycee Horn (Nov. 13)
• TE Ian Thomas (Nov. 13)

Activated:

• DE Marquis Haynes (story)

Eligible for activation:

• LB Shaq Thompson; ninth-year veteran not ruling out return from broken leg

Activations remaining: 6

Chicago Bears

Activated: 

• CB Josh Blackwell 
• WR Equanimeous St. Brown

Designated for return:

• RB Khalil Herbert (Nov. 6)

Activations remaining: 1

Cincinnati Bengals

Designated for return:

• WR Charlie Jones (Nov. 8)

Activations remaining: 8

Cleveland Browns

Eligible for activation:

• OL Michael Dunn
• LB Jordan Kunaszyk

Activations remaining: 8

Dallas Cowboys

Eligible for activation:

• CB C.J. Goodwin
• TE Peyton Hendershot
• LB Leighton Vander Esch (story)
• OL Matt Waletzko

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

Activated:

• CB Derek Stingley Jr. (story)

Eligible for activation:

• C Juice Scruggs

Activations remaining: 3

Indianapolis Colts

Eligible for activation:

• TE Jelani Woods

Activations remaining: 8

Jacksonville Jaguars

 Activated:

• CB Gregory Junior

Eligible for activation:

• CB Christian Braswell
• OL Cooper Hodges
• WR Parker Washington

Activations remaining: 6

Kansas City Chiefs

Designated for return:

• WR Richie James (Nov. 1)

Eligible for activation:

• OL Prince Tega Wanogho

Activations remaining: 8

Las Vegas Raiders

Eligible for activation:

• CB Brandon Facyson (story)
• S Roderic Teamer

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

Designated for return: 

• WR River Cracraft (Oct. 25)
• RB De’Von Achane (Nov. 13)

Activations remaining: 4

Minnesota Vikings

Designated for return:

• WR Justin Jefferson (Nov. 8)

Eligible for activation:

• OLB Marcus Davenport (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
• T Riley Reiff (story)
• OL Tyrone Wheatley Jr.

Activations remaining: 5

New Orleans Saints

Activated:

• FB Adam Prentice

Eligible for activation:

• DE Payton Turner (story)

Activations remaining: 6

New York Giants

Activated:

• OLB Azeez Ojulari (story)

Eligible for activation:

• OL Joshua Ezeudu

Activations remaining: 7

New York Jets

Designated for return:

• LT Duane Brown (Nov. 2)

Eligible for activation:

• CB Justin Hardee
• 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

Designated for return:

• RB Anthony McFarland (Oct. 16)

Eligible for activation:

• TE Pat Freiermuth (story)

Activations remaining: 6

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

Activated: 

• RB Kenny McIntosh
• WR Dareke Young

Eligible for activation:

• DB Coby Bryant
• RT Abraham Lucas (story)

Activations remaining: 6

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Eligible for activation: none

Activations remaining: 7

Tennessee Titans

Designated for return:

• S Mike Brown (Oct. 30)

Eligible for activation:

• RB Julius Chestnut
• WR Kearis Jackson

Activations remaining: 7

Washington Commanders

Eligible for activation:

• S Darrick Forrest (story)
• WR Dax Milne