Here are Tuesday’s minor NFL moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Designated to return from IR: DT Ta’Quon Graham (Aug 26)
Chicago Bears
- Designated to return from IR: DE Austin Booker, RB Travis Homer (Aug 26)
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on IR: K Spencer Shrader (story)
The Falcons and Bears have opened the 21-day practice windows for three injured reserve players today. All three will have the next three weeks in which they can participate in practice until they are completely cleared and able to be activated off of IR at any time during that window. If they fail to be activated after 21 days, they will revert to IR and will not be eligible to be activated to the active roster again this season.
Technically, Graham and Homer were already designated to return in the preseason. At the roster cut deadline, each team can designate two players on IR to be eligible to return after missing at least four games of the regular season. Any other players on IR when the initial 53-man roster is set will not be eligible to return to the roster during that year. Graham and Homer were both one of those designations for their respective teams.
Booker, on the other hand, was placed on IR after the roster cut deadline and has just now been designated to return. The protocol from here on out for each player will be the same.