NFL Week 6 injuries: Mac Jones, Kyle Pitts questionable; Steelers secondary missing key pieces vs. Bucs

Week 6 in the NFL got underway on Thursday with the Commanders outlasting the Bears and now we have a full Sunday slate to look forward to that has no shortage of superb matchups. This slew of games may very well feature previews of the conference championships with the Cowboys and Eagles going toe to toe in Philadelphia and the Bills and Chiefs duking it out at Arrowhead. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. 

Of course, with a new week of games comes a new collection of injuries that we need to follow. With teams finishing up the week of practice, they’ve released their final injury reports and rolled out game statuses for Week 6. Below, you’ll be able to find each of those reports and a breakdown of some of the biggest injuries. 

All NFL odds via Caesars Sportsbook. 

49ers at Falcons

• 49ers: DL Arik Armstead (foot, ankle), DT Javon Kinlaw (knee), CB Emmanuel Moseley (knee), DB Jimmie Ward (hand), T Trent Williams (ankle) OUT; DL Nick Bosa (groin), OL Aaron Banks (knee), TE Tyler Kroft (knee) QUESTIONABLE
• Falcons: LB Mykal Walker (groin) OUT; TE Kyle Pitts (hamstring), G Elijah Wilkinson (knee), LB Ade Ogundeji (shoulder) QUESTIONABLE

The 49ers are holding out hope that they’ll have Bosa for Week 6 despite battling through a groin injury. That said, San Francisco will still be down several heavy hitters, including left tackle Williams and Kinlaw. Kicker Robbie Gould was not listed on the injury report, which indicates he’ll play Sunday. 

Atlanta will be without their defensive signal caller in Walker on Sunday, so someone will have to carry that responsibility against the 49ers. As for his role on the field, rookie Troy Andersen should see more work. Meanwhile, Pitts, who was limited in practice this week, looks like he will have a shot at playing this week after sitting out against the Buccaneers. 

Patriots at Browns

• Patriots: LB Josh Uche (hamstring) OUT; QB Mac Jones (ankle), WR Nelson Agholor (hamstring), DL Christian Barmore (knee), DL Lawrence Guy (shoulder), RB Damien Harris (hamstring), CB Jonathan Jones (ankle), LB Raekwon McMillan (thumb), WR Jakobi Meyers (knee), TE Jonnu Smith (ankle)
• Browns: DE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle, knee, elbow), CB Denzel Ward (concussion), OT Joe Haeg (concussion) OUT

Could Mac Jones be making his return this weekend in Cleveland? The Patriots did not rule their starting quarterback out and officially listed him as questionable for Week 6 after participating in practice all week in limited fashion. Bill Belichick said Friday that the quarterback is “making good improvement.” If he is unable to go, it’ll be Bailey Zappe who’ll start for the second week in a row. 

Cleveland will be down two of its top defensive players on Sunday in Clowney and Ward. For Clowney, this is the third game this season he’ll be sidelined and the first since he initially returned from a two-game absence in Week 5. 

Jets at Packers

• Jets: DE Jermaine Johnson (ankle) OUT; OT Duane Brown (shoulder) QUESTIONABLE
• Packers: WR Christian Watson (hamstring), LB Tipa Galeai (hamstring) OUT; LB  Rashan Gary (toe) QUESTIONABLE

The Jets did not give injury designations to defensive end Carl Lawson (ankle), nor linebackers CJ Mosley (hip) and Quincy Williams (ankle), so they are all expected to play. 

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who missed practice on Wednesday due to a right thumb injury, does not carry an injury designation heading into this matchup with the Jets after participating fully the past two days. Meanwhile, Gary was added to the injury report on Thursday and practiced in a limited capacity on Friday. 

Jaguars at Colts

• Jaguars: DL Folorunso Fatukasi (quad), DT Davon Hamilton (foot), WR Marvin Jones (hamstring), WR Zay Jones (ankle), LB Foye Oluokun (calf) QUESTIONABLE
• Colts:

Zay Jones was limited in practice throughout the week and was able to play through his ankle injury in Week 5, albeit with just three catches on eight targets. Jones was also limited, which indicates that he has a good chance to play this week. 

Vikings at Dolphins

• Vikings: 
• Dolphins:

Analysis to come.

Bengals at Saints

• Bengals: WR Tee Higgins (ankle), OT Jonah Williams (knee), TE Hayden Hurst (groin) QUESTIONABLE
• Saints: WR Deonte Harty (foot), WR Jarvis Landry (ankle), WR Michael Thomas (foot), CB Marshon Lattimore (abdomen), Payton Turner (chest) OUT; WR Chris Olave (concussion), G Calvin Throckmorton (hip), CB Paulson Adebo (knee), S Marcus Maye (rib), DT Malcolm Roach (ankle), QB Jameis Winston (back, ankle) QUESTIONABLE

Higgins was able to return to practice in limited fashion on Friday, which is an encouraging sign for his status this weekend in New Orleans. This likely means he’s a game-time decision, so it’s worth keeping a solid eye on his status. The same goes for Williams, who returned to practice on a limited basis as well after missing the first two sessions with a knee injury. Hurst was limited all week. 

Head coach Dennis Allen already announced that Andy Dalton will start Sunday against the Bengals, but Winston is listed as questionable after being limited all week in practice. Meanwhile, Allen said that Thomas is making progress in his recovery from a foot injury, but is not ready to return just yet. Rookie Olave did practice fully on Friday, so if he clears concussion protocol he could be a much-needed boost to New Orleans’ passing game. 

Ravens at Giants

• Ravens: WR Rashod Bateman (foot), G Ben Cleveland (foot), OLB Justin Houston (groin) OUT; RB Justice Hill (hamstring) DOUBTFUL
• Giants: WR Kenny Golladay (knee), S Tony Jefferson (foot), CB Jason Pinnock (ankle), WR Kadarius Toney (hamstring), CB Cordale Flott (calf) OUT; LB Azeez Ojulari (calf) DOUBTFUL; WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee), DE Leonard Williams (knee), TE Tanner Hudson (illness) QUESTIONABLE

For the second week in a row, the Ravens will be without top receiver Bateman, who missed last week’s game due to a foot injury. Bateman did not practice all week. Hill was limited in the previous two practices but is officially doubtful. Tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) does not carry a designation for Week 6. 

New York will once again be without Golladay and Toney, but they may get rookie Robinson back as he’s questionable to play. Robinson has been out with a knee injury since Week 1. Meanwhile, Williams was limited in practice all week and is officially questionable. Also, running back Saquon Barkley (shoulder) carries no injury designation heading into this matchup. 

Buccaneers at Steelers

• Buccaneers: DL Akiem Hicks (foot), CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (quad), S Logan Ryan (foot) OUT; WR Julio Jones (knee) DOUBTFUL; S Mike Edwards (elbow) QUESTIONABLE
• Steelers: CB Cameron Sutton (hamstring), CB Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring), CB Levi Wallace (concussion), S Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee), TE Pat Freiermuth (concussion), DE DeMarvin Leal (knee) OUT

The positive news in Tampa Bay is wideout Chris Godwin (hip, knee) being taken off the injury report and carrying no designation entering Week 6. He was a full participant in Friday’s practice. 

Pittsburgh’s secondary will have plenty of holes to fill as it takes on Tom Brady this weekend as it will be without Fitzpatrick, Sutton, Witherspoon and Wallace. Not only is the secondary getting hit hard by injury, but Kenny Pickett will not have Freiermuth for this game either.

Panthers at Rams

• Panthers: WR Laviska Shenault Jr. (hamstring), CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver (thigh) OUT; QB Baker Mayfield (ankle) DOUBTFUL; CB Jaycee Horn (ribs), CB C.J. Henderson (knee), OLB Frankie Luvu (shoulder), CB Donte Jackson (ankle), G Cameron Erving (groin), WR Robbie Anderson (illness) QUESTIONABLE
• Rams:

Carolina has quite the laundry list of players listed on the final injury report. Most notably, starters Horn and Jackson were both held out of practice on Friday, so they are not trending in a great direction despite their questionable tags. That said, Steve Wilks said Friday that Jackson “should be fine.” Meanwhile, the door is slightly open for Mayfield to be active this week after the team listed him as doubtful, but P.J. Walker has taken all the first-team reps in practice as Mayfield missed the entire week due to that ankle injury. Walker will start, but Mayfield may back him up. 

Cardinals at Seahawks

• Cardinals: 
• Seahawks:

Analysis to come.

Bills at Chiefs

• Bills: WR Jake Kumerow (ankle) OUT; DT Jordan Phillips (hamstring) QUESTIONABLE
• Chiefs: S Bryan Cook (concussion), CB Rashad Fenton (hamstring), DT Tershawn Wharton (knee) OUT

The Bills are getting healthier just in time for their showdown with the Chiefs. All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer practiced fully on Friday and carries no designation entering Week 6, which means he is in line to return to the club this week after missing time due to a rib injury. Tremaine Edmunds (hamstring) and tight end Dawson Knox (foot, hamstring) also carries no designation. 

Kansas City will finally get kicker Harrison Butker back this week as the veteran carries no injury designation heading into this matchup with Buffalo. Butker sprained his left ankle in the season opener against the Cardinals and hadn’t kicked since. 

Cowboys at Eagles

• Cowboys: 
• Eagles:

Analysis to come.

Broncos at Chargers, Monday

• Broncos: 
• Chargers:

Analysis to come.