Week 6 Injury Read: Lamar, Rice and Barkley All in Doubt

Trending out

Saquon Barkley (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday and hasn't practiced since the Week 4 injury. The coach has expressed hope, but that's unconfirmed. He needs to be on the field by Friday or he sits. Plan for the latter.

Breece Hall is Doubtful with the quad and Aaron Glenn still calls him week-to-week with no Wednesday practice. That's a third straight absence trending in. Braelon Allen leads the backfield. David Montgomery is Doubtful with a groin, no Wednesday practice, and Houston has called it week-to-week since Week 5: Woody Marks is the back to hold. Kyle Monangai (turf toe) was a non-participant and is trending toward another miss, which makes D'Andre Swift the clear lead back in Chicago.

DeVonta Smith was a non-participant Wednesday with a hamstring and now a toe on top. Two games missed already. Quinshon Judkins did not practice with the foot issue; the reporting says he needs Thursday or Friday work before you can feel good about Sunday.

Out and unrosterable: De'Von Achane (torn ACL, IR), Jadarian Price (IR, chest, ineligible until at least Week 8), Alec Pierce (heel, IR, reported not close), Jayden Reed (neck, IR, no timeline), Jonathon Brooks (core surgery), Travis Etienne (IR), Deebo Samuel (Out, hamstring). Josh Jacobs remains on the Commissioner's Exempt List with a possible suspension pending: not an injury, same result. A.J. Brown is on IR with a practice window open but was only limited Wednesday; an immediate full workload is not assured even if activated.

Routine: start them

CeeDee Lamb practiced fully Wednesday with the thigh bruise. Start him Monday night at Green Bay. Jalen Coker was a full participant on Carolina's estimated report and is past the quad. Josh Allen practiced Wednesday without protection on the knee and moved fine.

Ashton Jeanty carries a Questionable tag the reporting doesn't support: Kubiak said he's feeling better and there's been no talk of rest. Puka Nacua has no designation and practiced fully; the only open question is workload management after two missed games, not availability. Rhamondre Stevenson's old tag belonged to a game already played, and he's expected to carry a heavier load while Henderson recovers.

Tony Pollard sat Wednesday for rest on a chronic foot/ankle issue, with full practice expected later in the week. Brock Bowers was limited Wednesday, the same pattern as last week before he played and caught 10 of 13. Chris Olave missed Wednesday with an illness, which the beat explicitly separated from his Week 5 performance; he has two days to practice.

Game-time decisions and the pivot

Lamar Jackson (ankle) did not practice Wednesday and already missed Week 5. He must practice Thursday or Friday. If he's out, Tyler Huntley starts again; the streaming pivots are Patrick Mahomes, Drake Maye or Jalen Hurts.

Rashee Rice (hamstring/knee) skipped Wednesday coming off the bye and Andy Reid would not commit to anything. Genuinely uncertain. DJ Moore (AC joint) did not participate at all, and Buffalo's Week 7 bye gives them a reason to hold him. Jeremiyah Love (ankle) sat Wednesday with LaFleur saying they want to do it "the right way," and the reporting is honest that nobody knows yet whether that's rep management or a real threat. TreVeyon Henderson was limited with a high-ankle sprain originally expected to cost multiple weeks; Stevenson and Kiner absorb the work if he sits. At receiver the pivots are Nico Collins, Drake London, Malik Nabers or Christian Watson.

Softer calls: Ladd McConkey was set to practice Wednesday on the foot and is positioned to reclaim his slot role; Quentin Johnston was limited and the Chargers' room is still unclear. Caleb Williams was listed as a full participant on the estimated report, a good sign for a return after three games, but the tag hasn't been lifted. Josh Downs was limited partly for rest. Rico Dowdle was limited and trending toward playing, but behind Jaylen Warren, whom McCarthy called the featured back. Stefon Diggs is Questionable with a hamstring and the material gives no practice detail, so I can't tell you more than that. Jordan Addison and Aaron Jones are on bye.

Thursday night, Seattle at Denver

These lock first. Jaxon Smith-Njigba practiced fully Wednesday and carries no designation after being limited Monday and Tuesday. Start him without hesitation: he leads Seattle with 36 targets on a target share the Seattle Times put near 38 percent. Only a late pregame downgrade changes it.

Jadarian Price is on IR with the chest injury and cannot play. Seattle's backfield beyond that is not detailed in what I have, so I won't guess at the split.