After two years of giving teams free rein on injured reserve transactions, the NFL reinstated limitations this offseason. Teams can now activate up to eight players from their IR, PUP and NFI lists combined. That will reintroduce some strategy into how franchises proceed with their activations over the next few months.
This week marks the first window to activate players stationed on these respective lists. Once a team designates a player for return, meaning the player returns to practice, the activation clock starts. Teams have 21 days from those return-to-practice points to activate that player. If no activation commences in that window, the player reverts to season-ending IR.
Here is how teams’ IR, PUP and NFI situations look for Week 5:
Arizona Cardinals
Designated for return:
Also eligible for activation:
Atlanta Falcons
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
Baltimore Ravens
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
Buffalo Bills
Eligible for activation:
Carolina Panthers
Eligible for activation:
Chicago Bears
Designated for return:
Cincinnati Bengals
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
Cleveland Browns
Designated for return:
Dallas Cowboys
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
Denver Broncos
Eligible for activation:
Detroit Lions
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
Green Bay Packers
Eligible for activation:
Houston Texans
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
Indianapolis Colts
Eligible for activation:
Jacksonville Jaguars
Eligible for activation: No players on short-term IR
Kansas City Chiefs
Eligible for activation:
Las Vegas Raiders
Eligible for activation: No players eligible for Week 5 activation
Los Angeles Chargers
Eligible for activation:
Los Angeles Rams
Eligible for activation:
Miami Dolphins
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
Minnesota Vikings
Designated for return:
New England Patriots
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
New Orleans Saints
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
New York Giants
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
New York Jets
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
Philadelphia Eagles
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
Pittsburgh Steelers
Designated for return:
San Francisco 49ers
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
Seattle Seahawks
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Eligible for…