Since our initial offensive line rankings were published two months ago, injuries, acquisitions and position battles have changed the picture across the NFL. Some of the offensive line situations remain fluid heading into the start of the regular season, but here’s a look at how the lines have adjusted so far.
In the table, blue is All-Pro caliber, green is above-average, yellow is average, orange is probably below-average, and red is definitely below-average. Age and injury risk are factored into grades; an All-Pro caliber player who's either hurting now or a poor bet to stay healthy will receive a lower grade.
-It wouldn’t be the Los Angeles Chargers without some significant injuries. Center Tyler Biadasz, signed to a three-year, $30 million deal in March, damaged his ACL and suffered additional injuries to his left knee in practice, and he’s out indefinitely. Fortunately, second-round pick Jake Slaughter, a center at Florida who had been taking most of his snaps at left guard, can slide back to the middle, but the change undoubtedly hurts the Chargers line, accounting for their drop. Former Lion Kayode Awosika, whom Jim Harbaugh has called the most consistent of the candidates at left guard, is likely to start there.
-San Francisco signed veteran Robert Jones to a one-year deal in the offseason after he missed all of 2025 with a fractured neck. So far, so good for the veteran, who has moved ahead of Connor Colby and company at left guard, but the position still isn’t settled as we inch closer to Week 1.
-The Lions will be without new center Cade Mays for the start of the year after he fractured a small bone in his wrist, an injury initially pegged at 8- 10 weeks. It appears Juice Scruggs, acquired from Houston in the David Montgomery trade, will step in to fill the void. The former second-round pick was considered a relative bust in three seasons with the Texans, but Dan Campbell has sounded confident in Scruggs as a short-term replacement. If worse comes to worst, the team could also shift Tate Ratledge from guard.
-Baltimore signed veteran center Ethan Pocic in July, and he’s in a three-way competition with Danny Pinter and Jovaughn Gwyn to replace Tyler Linderbaum. Pinter had been in the thick of the competition, but he was carted off Wednesday during a joint practice with the Vikings. Pocic missed the end of last season with a torn Achilles and wasn’t cleared to practice until July, but with 97 NFL starts under his belt, he has by far the most experience in the room.
-We’ve heard some good news and some bad news on the offensive line injury front for Carolina this summer. Ikem Ekwonu is on the PUP list as he recovers from the patellar tendon he ruptured in January’s playoff loss, but Dave Canales has yet to rule him out for Week 1. A return that soon seems very unlikely, but his words speak to the encouraging progress in Ekwonu’s recovery. The other side of the line has bigger issues, however, as right tackle Taylor Moton is out indefinitely with blood clots in his lung. Fortunately, 19th overall draft choice Monroe Freeling can fill in on the right side, with offseason signing Rasheed Walker keeping left tackle warm until Ekwonu is ready. Both have drawn praise in camp, making what could have been a catastrophic situation more bearable.
-With Cole Van Lanen on the PUP list as he recovers from the knee injury that ended his 2025 season and Patrick Mekari coming off back surgery, the Jaguars offensive line has played musical chairs. Anton Harrison has made the most of his opportunity, shifting from right to left tackle. It looks like Harrison could now stick on the left side. At this point, it’s unclear where this leaves Van Lanen when he’s able to return. One possibility is Van Lanen taking over on the right side, with Walker Little filling in at right guard for Mekari. For now, Wyatt Milum, Jonah Monheim, and Emmanuel Pregnon are in the mix at right guard.
-An already shaky offensive line took a massive blow with Laremy Tunsil suffering a torn triceps in training camp. The left tackle had surgery and is out indefinitely, and while Dan Quinn says he hopes to have him back at some point, Washington will be without its best blocker for a large chunk of 2026. That leaves the Commanders offensive line in relative shambles. Brandon Coleman, who has experience at the position in his first two seasons, moves back outside to replace him.
-Like the situation in Carolina, some encouraging news on the injury front with Broderick Jones leaves the Steelers in a slightly better state than two months ago. Jones is returning from neck surgery and practicing, though he needs time to return to playing shape. In the meantime, Dylan Cook started the first preseason game at right tackle. He’s already on the hot seat after struggling in the contest. First-round pick Max Iheanachor has also been out with a neck and shoulder injury, leaving the job wide open.
-Jeremiyah Love’s high ankle sprain was the preseason injury that got most of the headlines for the Cardinals, but it wasn’t the only one. Second-round pick Chase Bisontis tore his MCL and has already been placed on injured reserve. Isaiah Adams, who was listed as the starter at right guard before the injury, no longer has anyone pushing him.
--Seth Trachtman
