NFL FRIDAY INJURY UPDATE — OCTOBER 16: QUARTERBACK ABSENCES AND INJURY CLUSTERS SHAPE WEEK 6

Friday’s reports brought several major decisions into focus: Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts and Baker Mayfield are out, while Caleb Williams remains questionable despite practicing fully all week. Beyond the quarterbacks, depleted offensive lines, thin secondaries and multiple injuries at the same position could have just as much influence on Sunday’s games.

Here is the team-by-team breakdown. Questionable players still require a final availability check, and Monday’s game designations will arrive Saturday.

ARIZONA CARDINALS

RB Jeremiyah Love is out with an ankle injury, but the bigger cluster may be at safety. Andrew Wingard and Wydett Williams Jr. are out, while Budda Baker and Kitan Crawford are questionable. Baker missed Friday’s practice with a groin issue. That combination leaves Arizona facing potentially significant coverage and communication problems against the Rams.

ATLANTA FALCONS

QB Michael Penix Jr. practiced fully and has no game designation, clearing the way for him to start against Chicago. CB C.J. Henderson is out, and DE Za’Darius Smith is questionable with a neck injury. Penix’s availability settles the biggest offensive question; Smith’s status matters for Atlanta’s ability to pressure a returning Caleb Williams.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

QB Lamar Jackson is officially out with an ankle injury, putting Tyler Huntley back under center. Starting C Cam Jurgens is also out with a concussion, while G Andrew Vorhees and G/T Emery Jones Jr. are questionable. The combination of a backup quarterback and interior protection uncertainty is the central concern. WR Rashod Bateman has no designation after returning to full practice Friday, and WR Zay Flowers also avoided a game designation.

BUFFALO BILLS

WRs DJ Moore and Josh Palmer are questionable with shoulder injuries. DTs Ed Oliver and T.J. Sanders and CB Dee Alford are also questionable. This is a two-sided cluster: Buffalo could lose receiving options for Josh Allen and rotation strength inside the defensive line. Oliver has not been ruled out, so treating his absence as confirmed would be premature.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

RT Monroe Freeling is doubtful, while OT Taylor Moton remains questionable as he works toward a return from the reserve list. G Damien Lewis, OLB Jaelan Phillips and DT Tershawn Wharton are also questionable despite full participation Friday. RB AJ Dillon is out; Carolina plans to activate RB Trevor Etienne. The tackle situation is the most important issue for protecting Bryce Young against Philadelphia’s front.

CHICAGO BEARS

QB Caleb Williams is questionable with a hamstring injury even after three full practices. That is encouraging participation, but it is not an official clearance. RB Kyle Monangai, DL Dayo Odeyingbo and LBs T.J. Edwards and Keyshaun Elliott are out. DBs Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson are questionable. Chicago’s defensive losses deserve attention alongside the quarterback news, particularly against Atlanta’s running game.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Cincinnati is on its bye. There is no Week 6 game designation to apply, and the next practice cycle will provide a clearer picture of availability coming out of the break.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

RB Quinshon Judkins is questionable with an ankle injury, while RB Dylan Sampson and G Teven Jenkins are out. The defensive interior is another concern: DTs Kalia Davis and Mike Hall Jr. are out, with DT Mason Graham questionable. DE Derek Barnett and LB Carson Schwesinger are also questionable. Baltimore’s quarterback absence does not erase Cleveland’s own uncertainty against the run.

DALLAS COWBOYS

CB Cobie Durant is out, while CB Joey Porter Jr. and LB DeMarvion Overshown are questionable. OT Drew Shelton is also out. WR CeeDee Lamb practiced fully throughout the week and has no designation. Dallas has its top receiving weapon available, but the defensive coverage picture could change substantially depending on Porter and Overshown.

DENVER BRONCOS

Following Thursday’s overtime win, RB Tyler Badie needs monitoring after leaving with a thumb injury. WR Jaylen Waddle briefly exited with a shoulder injury but returned to the game. CB Patrick Surtain II and S Talanoa Hufanga missed the contest with ankle injuries. OLB Jonathon Cooper was removed from the Commissioner Exempt List Friday and is eligible to return in Week 7.

DETROIT LIONS

Detroit is on its bye. There is no Sunday availability decision this week; the next official reports will establish who is ready when the Lions return.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

The defensive tackle group is the major concern. Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Ford are out, Jordon Riley is doubtful, and Anthony Campbell is questionable. CB Benjamin St-Juste and WR Skyy Moore are also out; G Aaron Banks, C/G Jacob Monk and CB Brandon Cisse are questionable. RB Josh Jacobs’ reinstatement takes effect Monday, meaning he remains unavailable against Dallas on Sunday night.

HOUSTON TEXANS

RB David Montgomery, S Jalen Pitre and WR Tank Dell are out for the London game. Montgomery’s absence puts more responsibility on the remaining backfield, while Pitre’s loss affects coverage flexibility and run support. LB Henry To’oTo’o and DB Ja’Marcus Ingram are questionable. Montgomery and Pitre are the most consequential confirmed losses on opposite sides of the ball.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

WR Ashton Dulin and LB Jaylon Carlies are out. TEs Tyler Warren and Will Mallory are questionable, making the tight end group the main remaining offensive concern. QB Daniel Jones, WR Josh Downs and OT Jalen Travis finished the week without game designations. Travis’ return to full practice is positive news for the protection unit.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

CB Montaric Brown and LS Ross Matiscik are out, while CB Jaylon Jones is questionable with a hamstring injury. S Eric Murray practiced fully Friday and has no designation after his concussion. Murray’s availability helps, but Jacksonville still has uncertainty at cornerback. Matiscik’s absence also introduces a change to the kicking operation.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

WR Rashee Rice is out with hamstring and knee injuries, and OT Josh Simmons is out with a back injury. CB L’Jarius Sneed is questionable. QB Patrick Mahomes practiced fully all week and has no designation. Kansas City’s concerns center on receiving production and tackle protection, rather than quarterback availability.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

DT Tonka Hemingway is out with a concussion, and OL Trey Zuhn III is questionable with a knee injury. WR Dont’e Thornton Jr. and TE Carter Runyon are also out. TE Brock Bowers, RB Ashton Jeanty and WR Jalen Nailor finished without game designations. Hemingway’s absence reduces the interior rotation against Buffalo, while the key offensive skill players are available.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

OT Joe Alt, G Kayode Awosika, WR Tre Harris, CB Donte Jackson and S Derwin James are out. CB Rodney Shelley is doubtful, while several front-seven defenders remain questionable. That creates serious concerns in both protection and coverage. The positive news: WRs Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston practiced fully Friday and have no game designations.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

CB Trent McDuffie and S Kamren Curl are questionable, putting two important coverage roles under watch against Arizona. Separately, LT Alaric Jackson will miss this game through suspension despite having his punishment reduced to one game. The distinction matters: the appeal reduced the length of the absence, but did not make him available Sunday.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Miami is on its bye. There is no Week 6 game designation, and return-to-play decisions should be based on the next official practice reports.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Minnesota is on its bye. The break provides recovery time, but availability for the next game remains subject to the following week’s reports.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

CBs Carlton Davis III and Karon Prunty are out, but CB Christian Gonzalez has no designation after full practices Thursday and Friday. WR A.J. Brown, RB TreVeyon Henderson and OTs Will Campbell and Marcus Bryant are questionable. Gonzalez’s return helps the secondary; the offensive skill and tackle questions could still affect both production and protection.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

LBs Kaden Elliss and Anfernee Jennings are out. RB Alvin Kamara, WR Chris Olave and DT Nathan Shepherd are questionable, with illness affecting Olave and Shepherd. Kamara and Olave are the biggest offensive decisions, but losing both linebackers also weakens the defensive rotation. This is a cluster worth checking again before kickoff.

NEW YORK GIANTS

OTs Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor are questionable after returning to limited practice Friday. OLB Abdul Carter is also questionable, while TE Theo Johnson, CB Colton Hood and S Tyler Nubin are out. The paired tackle questions are especially important: losing either would complicate protection, and losing both would materially change the matchup.

NEW YORK JETS

RB Breece Hall, WR Adonai Mitchell, OL Dylan Parham and EDGE Joseph Ossai are out. TE Kenyon Sadiq, WR Omar Cooper Jr. and S Dane Belton are questionable. Hall and Parham being unavailable together hurts the running game, while the additional receiving uncertainty could leave the offense with fewer ways to compensate.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

QB Jalen Hurts and RB Saquon Barkley are out. RB Will Shipley was placed on IR, leaving Dameon Pierce in line to start with Carson Steele behind him. OLB Jalyx Hunt is out and OLB A.J. Epenesa is doubtful, although OLB Jonathan Greenard returns. WRs DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown are available. C Drew Kendall and G Landon Dickerson remain questionable; Dickerson still requires activation from IR. Tanner McKee gets receiving help, but the backfield and protection concerns remain substantial.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

WR DK Metcalf was added Friday with an illness and is questionable. WRs Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek are out, creating a potentially thin receiving group if Metcalf cannot play. S DeShon Elliott is also out, while CBs Jalen Ramsey and Jamel Dean, DT Keeanu Benton and RB Rico Dowdle are questionable. Metcalf’s late addition is the key development to follow.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

DE Nick Bosa and WR Mike Evans remained out of Friday’s practice, while WR Deebo Samuel also continues to miss work. WR Christian Kirk is limited. The receiving group and pass-rush depth remain the main concerns, but these are practice updates for Monday’s game—not final game designations. Saturday’s report will determine the official availability labels.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

TE Elijah Arroyo underwent imaging Friday after leaving Thursday’s game with a shoulder injury; the team had not announced the severity in its Friday update. G Anthony Bradford has a strong chance to return from IR next week, according to Mike Macdonald. RB Jadarian Price must miss at least one more game, and RB Zach Charbonnet has not yet been activated from PUP. Seattle’s backfield remains a situation to monitor.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

QB Baker Mayfield is out with a right thumb injury, and S Antoine Winfield Jr. is out with a rib injury. CB Benjamin Morrison is doubtful. LBs SirVocea Dennis and Josiah Trotter, CB Ayden Garnes and RB Sean Tucker are questionable. The quarterback absence leads the report, but the defensive injuries could be equally important if Pittsburgh’s passing weapons are available.

TENNESSEE TITANS

S Kevin Winston Jr. is out, and DL Jordan Elliott will miss the game for personal reasons. RB Tyjae Spears and CB Joshua Williams are questionable. Spears practiced fully Friday, which is encouraging, but he still carries a game designation. His availability matters for Tennessee’s backfield flexibility alongside Tony Pollard.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

QB Jayden Daniels practiced fully Friday. WR Stefon Diggs returned on a limited basis, while WR Terry McLaurin did not practice and was listed with hamstring/rest. RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, QB Marcus Mariota and DE Charles Omenihu remained out of practice; DT Javon Kinlaw was also a Friday non-participant. Saturday’s final report will clarify Monday’s availability, with the receiving group and defensive front the main clusters to watch.