Simmons has been held out of practice for roughly two months while dealing with a bulging disc in his lower back. Kansas City’s starting left tackle has yet to play a snap this year while dealing with the back injury. Head coach Andy Reid said the team will “ease him back in, but on a limited basis.” There is currently no timetable for when Simmons will return. Undrafted Khalil Benson has been serviceable as the team’s starting left tackle, but Simmons will ultimately be a notable upgrade whenever he returns to action. Benson is still expected to start this week versus the Chargers.
Technically, a limited session is possible, but we expect to see Barkley listed as a non-participant since he skipped warmups. Barkley still has a chance to face the Panthers this week, but ideally, he would be out there right now, beginning his ramp-up period. Eagles RBs Dameon Pierce and Carson Steelers are on the active roster, while RB Jaydon Blue currently sits on the practice squad.
Brown will return to practice today, likely for a limited session. The team now has 21 days to officially activate him from IR. That could happen later this week, which would mean he’s ready to suit up for Week 6 against the Jets. He would likely be on some sort of pitch count in his first game back, but even a limited AJB would be worthy of a spot in the WR2 ranks.
Rice appeared to have a good chance at suiting up for Week 6 when Andy Reid spoke about it after Week 4’s win over the Raiders. Reid only said he “tweaked” his hammy. Even with a bye week to rest, it looks like Rice is now on the wrong side of questionable for Week 6. With Tyquan Thornton on IR, Xavier Worthy may be tasked with WR1 duties this week. He totaled four catches for 70 yards in his last outing and would be a solid FLEX play versus the Chargers if Rice can’t go.
Mayfield did not practice today and is a safe bet to miss Week 6 as he continues to work his way back from the dislocated thumb he suffered in Week 3. The fact that he can’t even throw a football right now, let alone participate in practice, suggests Mayfield could be out beyond just Week 6. Jalon Daniels will start on Sunday versus the Steelers. Daniels has been held well under 200 passing yards in both of his starts, but he does at least have 78 rushing yards in those contests. His output as a runner will keep him in the QB2 mix for Week 6.
Jackson could always return for the portion of practice not open to the media, but this is still a concerning start to the week for the superstar quarterback. Jackson missed Week 5 with the ankle injury after failing to practice once during the week. If he remains sidelined for Week 6, Tyler Huntley will make his second start of the year. Huntley acquitted himself well on Sunday night with 201 yards and two touchdowns through the air, plus a score on the ground, in Baltimore’s overtime win over the Falcons. He will be a solid QB2 for Superflex players if Jackson is out again this week.
Per Glenn, Mitchell remains week to week. This explains the lengthy absence for Mitchell, who hasn’t played since injuring his finger in practice ahead of Week 3. According to Glenn, Mitchell is moving his fingers around well, which is hopefully a sign that he will be back soon. With Omar Cooper Jr.'s practice window now open, Mitchell could return to a rather crowded receiver room once he is healthy.
The former second-team All-Pro safety left last week’s game against the Chargers with the injury. Hufanga has been one of the biggest havoc creators in the league this year with one forced fumble and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. His absence will be a big blow to the Broncos’ defense, which is already without Patrick Surtain II, Jonathon Cooper, and potentially Riley Moss for their Week 6 matchup against the Seahawks.
“We’ll see how he’s feeling,” head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Wednesday morning, adding that Penix should be able to play through the injury. Even if it’s a limited practice session for Penix, it’s good news for his Week 6 availability following his Sunday night rib injury against the Ravens. Penix, operating under center at a much higher rate than last season, is among the most efficient quarterbacks in the league through Week 5. If Penix is out, Tua Tagovailoa would represent a major downgrade for all Atlanta pass catchers.
Sampson was placed on injured reserve in mid-September with a knee injury. His return could be an immediate factor in the Browns backfield with Quinshon Judkins likely out with an ankle injury. Sampson could compete for backfield touches with Jaleel McLaughlin in Week 6 against the Ravens if he’s active.
Judkins suffered a potentially serious ankle injury in Week 5 and could miss Week 6 against the Ravens if he’s unable to practice in the next couple days. That could leave Jaleel McLaughlin as the Browns’ lead back against Baltimore. Dylan Sampson (knee) could also suit up if he’s able to practice after a four-week stint on IR.
Technically, Williams was estimated as a full participant ahead of the Bears’ Week 6 game against the Falcons. We’ll see if Williams, who has missed the past three games, practices in full on Thursday. Either way he’s likely to be under center against the pass-funnel Atlanta defense in Week 6. He should be in all lineups if he’s active.
Ward’s head, per Saleh, is in a “good place” ahead of the Titans’ Week 6 game against the Colts. Ward has been dreadful through five weeks, ranking 24th in EPA per drop back and 27th in drop back success rate. Only five quarterbacks have a lower adjusted yards per attempt than Ward this season. Daniel Jones and Tyson Bagent are the only QBs who average fewer fantasy points per drop back. Saleh has defended his second-year QB at every turn and does not seem close to benching him in favor of journeyman backup Mitchell Trubisky.
Sadiq suffered the head injury in Week 5 against Cleveland and did not return to action. Mason Taylor led the team’s tight ends with a 59 percent routes rate against the Browns, catching all three of his targets for 23 yards. If Sadiq remains in the protocol tomorrow, he would be a long shot to play in Week 6. Taylor in that case would be a desperation streaming option in 12-team leagues.
Cooper has been on injured reserve since sustaining a high ankle sprain in Week 1. He could return as soon as this week against the Patriots, though he could see his snaps and routes limited. Cooper can be rostered in deeper 12-team formats. Garrett Wilson’s domination of the New York passing offense makes it tough for anyone else to post fantasy-relevant numbers for now.
Mayfield is unlikely to suit up this week against the Steelers, leaving Jalon Daniels to get another start for Tampa. Daniel last week in a win over Dallas completed 19-of-25 passes for 189 yards and one touchdown, rushing for 23 yards. Daniels ranked tenth in EPA per drop back on the week and 11th in drop back success rate. His rushing makes Daniels a viable superflex option this week against the Steelers.
It’s a remarkable turn after Concepcion was knocked out cold on the field in Week 5 against the Jets. If Concepcion is able to practice in the coming days he should be active for Week 6 against the Ravens. The rookie leads the Cleveland offense with a 23 percent target per route rate, used primarily as a gadget player near the line of scrimmage. He would be a flex option in PPR formats if he suits up against Baltimore.
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said Lane, who injured his wrist in the season opener against the Colts, will return to practice this week and could suit up this weekend against the Browns. Lane had impressed Ravens coaches and beat writers through training camp and in Week 1 he caught one of three targets for 11 yards before exiting with the wrist injury. Lane’s return to the Baltimore lineup could limit snaps and routes for Rashod Bateman Devontez Walker. Lane should be picked up in 14-team leagues.
Jackson’s ankle injury, which has been described as neither high nor low, kept him sidelined in the Ravens’ win over the Falcons. It’s possible the Ravens will be cautious with Jackson and have Tyler Huntley start one more game in Week 6 against the Browns. Huntley against the Falcons threw for 201 yards and two scores. He was the seventh most accurate QB of the week. Jackson’s practice participation will be closely monitored over the next few days.
Asked about Love’s lack of route running — he has a 29 percent route participation rate on the season — LaFleur said the Cardinals’ pass blocking struggles often prevent Love from functioning as a pass catcher. “I wasn’t too confident in terms of getting into some of those ‘scat’ protections and stuff like that and five-man protections,” LaFleur said. “We wanted to have that extra body in there. There were a couple of times where I wanted to get him on some choice routes and stuff like that, but like I said I didn’t feel confident that we were going to be able to execute at the level that we needed to. But it is a good question.” Love, who has 13 targets and has been targeted on 21 percent of his pass routes, would need much more pass game involvement if he were to operate as an RB1 in fantasy leagues this season.
Cardinals fans appear to be pining for the team to bench Jacoby Brissett and start the rookie in the coming weeks as another season circles the drain for Arizona. Beck so far has been the Cards’ emergency third quarterback. Urban said there remains a “chance Beck is made the backup this week or next and allow him to come on in relief if the situation presents itself. I don’t see Beck starting in the immediate future, but it does feel his time grows closer, and if the offense continues to sputter, that would be understandable.” Brissett this season ranks 15th in passing yards. He’s thrown nine touchdowns to five interceptions and ranks 30th out of 37 qualifying QBs in adjusted yards per attempt. He won’t be a viable fantasy play this week against a tough Rams coverage unit.
A jury this week found Hill, 32, “liable for two of 10 counts related to domestic violence and awarded his estranged wife $500,000 in compensatory damages,” Kilgore reported. Hill, who has faced allegations of domestic violence in the past, was accused of several instances of harming his ex-wife. Hill denied the allegations. An NFL spokesperson told Kilgore that the league has been “monitoring developments in the matter which remains under review of the personal conduct policy.” That could mean Hill will face a suspension if he signs with a team in the coming weeks. Hill’s agent has reportedly reached out to the Chiefs — Hill’s former team — to gage interest in the veteran wideout coming off a horrific knee injury in October 2025.
Rosenhaus is shopping Hill to a contending team with “a good quarterback” about a year after Hill suffered a gruesome leg injury that ended his 2025 season with the Dolphins. Hill, who last week testified in his assault and battery court case, is a free agent. “I don’t know if he’s 100 percent today, but he’s close,” Rosenhaus said. “And he’ll get there really soon. But I think that’s probably something you’ll have to wait until he gets out in practices and gets with a team before saying he’s 100 percent.” There have been rumors of a potential Hill reunion with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, who recently lost Tyquan Thornton to a season-ending ankle injury and Rashee Rice to a hamstring issue.
Greenlaw was suspended after he was ejected for headbutting Seahawks LB Ernest Jones during a sideline scuffle in the 49ers’ Week 5 win over the Seahawks. He appealed the suspension, but it has been upheld by hearing officer James Thrash. Greenlaw will miss Week 6 and is in line to return against the Falcons in Week 7.
Garrett went on injured reserve after Week 1 and is therefore eligible to have his 21-day practice window for activation off IR opened this week. However, McVay said the 30-year-old pass-rusher won’t have his window opened, indicating Garrett is not ready to practice yet and it will still be some time before we see him back on the field. His initial timeline after undergoing a knee scope was roughly six weeks. It’s been four weeks so far, but Garrett could still hit the six-week return timeline if his practice window is opened next week.