NFL injuries can derail a team’s season. But when a player returns from an injury midway through a campaign, it’s almost akin to making a trade — except a club doesn’t have to sacrifice anything to bring in a reinforcement.
Several key players are eligible to leave the NFL’s various injury lists — injured reserve (IR), physically unable to perform (PUP), and non-football injury (NFI) — and rejoin their respective teams in Week 5. Let’s run through the potential returnees who could make the most significant impact.
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Which NFL Players Could Come Off IR/PUP/NFI in Week 5?
While Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey, and other injured players are technically eligible to return to practice this week, they’re not quite ready to return.
But other sidelined players have recovered enough to get back on the field and could play as soon as Sunday. Once a player is designated to return from any of the NFL’s injured lists, his team receives a three-week window during which he must be placed on the club’s active roster.
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Jonathan Taylor’s situation with the Indianapolis Colts is the most interesting of this bunch, if only because it remains unclear whether Taylor was actually dealing with a severe ankle injury while on the PUP list. Taylor, who wants an extension and requested a trade earlier this year, might have been suffering from “contract-itis,” as ESPN’s Adam Schefter suggested over the summer.
Taylor, who hasn’t practiced with the Colts since Dec. 17, will return to practice on Wednesday, as head coach Shane Steichen confirmed this week. Indianapolis officially designated him to return today.
So Jonathan Taylor is just going to return to practice like nothing happened?
Reminds me of the Seinfeld when George quits his job, because he wasn't allowed to use the executive toilet. But quickly regrets his decision and shows back up to work, pretends he didn't quit. pic.twitter.com/LPBp8ibcaa
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) October 3, 2023
“He’s in good shape,” Steichen said. “Conditioning-wise, obviously putting on the pads and practicing is a different deal. I know it’s been a long time since he’s played football, so we’ll see how practice goes this week, see where he is at physically from putting the pads on, and we’ll go from there.”
Taylor could play against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, depending on how he progresses throughout the week. Zack Moss has been Indy’s RB1 through the first four games of the season but would be relegated to a backup role upon Taylor’s return.
Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, Miami Dolphins
Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane have taken over the Miami Dolphins’ backfield, but don’t forget about Jeff Wilson Jr., eligible to return from IR this week after dealing with midsection and finger injuries.
Drew Rosenhaus, Wilson’s agent, said this week that the veteran running back is healthy enough to return. But given how productive Mostert and Achane have been to start the season (13 combined touchdowns), it’s unclear how Wilson will fit into Miami’s backfield.
Keaton Mitchell, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Keaton Mitchell certainly isn’t a household name, but the undrafted rookie free agent could end up having a role for the Baltimore Ravens, especially given the current state of their depleted backfield.
J.K. Dobbins is out for the season after rupturing his Achilles in Week 1. Gus Edwards and Justice Hill played in Week 4, but Edwards recently suffered a concussion while Hill missed a game with a foot injury.
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Mitchell made Baltimore’s roster on the strength of his preseason performance before heading to IR with a shoulder injury. Head coach John Harbaugh said Mitchell could begin practicing this week. He could offer a viable alternative to Ravens practice squaders Melvin Gordon III and Kenyan Drake.
Meanwhile, pass rusher Tyus Bowser could also return from the NFI list this week, per Harbaugh. Baltimore needs all the EDGE help it can get after placing David Ojabo on IR over the weekend. Fellow pass rusher Odafe Oweh has missed the past two games with an ankle issue.
Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
While the Los Angeles Rams have been without their best offensive player for the first month of the season, Cooper Kupp’s absence allowed them to find a pair of new weapons in Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell. Still, Sean McVay and Co. will be more than happy to get Kupp back on the field.
"He's practicing next week." Sean McVay, pretty firmly, on Cooper Kupp, whose 21-day activation window opens next week. Says he "100%" factors in Kupp's opinion on how he feels re. game activation – won't be reckless, he says, but adds Kupp knows his own body.
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) September 29, 2023
Although Kupp’s hamstring injury was initially suspicious (especially after he traveled to Minnesota to meet with a specialist), the veteran wideout will return to practice this week. If he’s cleared, Kupp could play against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and add a new dimension to a Rams passing attack that already ranks ninth in efficiency.
Tytus Howard, OT, Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud has looked like a veteran quarterback through four games despite playing behind an offensive line full of second- and third-stringers. But the No. 2 overall pick could be getting some help.
Right tackle Tytus Howard and rookie center Juice Scruggs are eligible to come off IR this week. Head coach DeMeco Ryans said the club “will see what happens throughout the week” before deciding whether to activate either lineman.
Howard will slide right back into his starting spot. Scruggs, Houston’s second-round pick, was supposed to be the team’s starting center, but replacement Jarrett Patterson has played well in his stead. Patterson might be able to onto the job, especially if Scruggs can’t return until Week 6 or later.
Teven Jenkins, G, Chicago Bears
Speaking of teams that could use offensive line help, the Chicago Bears might see the return of guard Teven Jenkins on Sunday. Chicago has already designated Jenkins to return from IR, so the team has a three-week window to activate him onto its 53-man roster.
Jenkins isn’t an All-Pro guard, but the Bears simply need functional line play. He could retake his spot at left guard, allowing Cody Whitehair to move back to center and shifting Lucas Patrick to the bench.
Von Miller, EDGE, Buffalo Bills
Von Miller hasn’t suited up since tearing his ACL on Thanksgiving Day, but he will return to practice this week, as head coach Sean McDermott told reporters. Miller initially thought he had a chance to play as early as Week 1, but both player and team ultimately decided to take it slow with the 34-year-old pass rusher.
Von Miller will practice this week, per Sean McDermott. From there they will "take it one day at a time."
— Sal Capaccio 🏈 (@SalSports) October 2, 2023
The Buffalo Bills haven’t had any trouble generating pressure, even without Miller on the field. The Bills — who have gotten contributions from Leonard Floyd, Ed Oliver, Greg Rousseau, and others — lead the NFL with 16 sacks and rank third in pass-rush win rate.
Jack Jones, CB, New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are running out of cornerbacks, so Jack Jones can’t return soon enough. Marcus Jones is already on IR, Jonathan Jones has missed three games with an ankle injury, and Christian Gonzalez will be sidelined indefinitely after separating his shoulder in Week 4. Jack Jones will be an immediate starter if he can play on Sunday.
Jones isn’t the only player New England could add to their roster this week. Wide receiver Tyquan Thornton and offensive tackle Riley Reiff are also eligible to begin practicing and could theoretically suit up in Week 5.
Eric Stokes, CB, Green Bay Packers
Eric Stokes spent the first four weeks of the season on the PUP list while dealing with a foot injury, but he returned to practice for the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday and could play on Sunday. Fellow cornerback Jaire Alexander, who missed the past two games with a back injury, also practiced.
Look who’s back 👀
Eric Stokes @_jamane_ makes his return to the practice field off the PUP list. pic.twitter.com/EvzaxhhBfi
— Kassidy Hill (@KassidyGHill) October 3, 2023
Stokes won’t necessarily be a starter upon his return. If Alexander can play in Week 5, he’d be in the starting lineup alongside Rasul Douglas and slot defender Keisean Nixon. But Stokes will give the Packers valuable insurance and ensure they don’t have to deploy seventh-round rookie Carrington Valentine for too many snaps.