Key stars sidelined as injuries reshape game plans ahead of NFL Week 6 Sunday matchups
Ahead of Sunday’s NFL Week 6 slate, the injury crisis shows no signs of letting up, sidelining stars and leaving fans and analysts bracing for chaos. Franchise quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Brock Purdy, explosive skill players like Terrion Arnold, and dynamic backs such as Omarion Hampton, who is nursing an ankle injury, are all among the notable absences, reshaping offensive blueprints and defensive strategies alike.
The 2025 season has been relentless, with injuries touching nearly every team, forcing coaches to dig deep into their depth charts and forcing fans to recalibrate expectations week by week. Missing cornerstone talent does not just alter rotations; it can swing win probabilities, derail offensive schemes, and stress special teams execution.
Adam Schefter’s social media updates have laid bare the scale of this epidemic, highlighting the majority of the players sidelined for Week 6’s Sunday slate, where adaptability may matter more than star power.
Adam Schefter’s latest injury report confirms that the players ruled out Sunday, with their specific injuries, are:
| Player | Team | Position | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar Jackson | Baltimore Ravens | QB | Hamstring | Out |
| Brock Purdy | San Francisco 49ers | QB | Toe | Out |
| CeeDee Lamb | Dallas Cowboys | WR | Ankle | Out |
| Mike Evans | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | WR | Hamstring | Out |
| Chris Godwin | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | WR | Fibula | Out |
| Roquan Smith | Baltimore Ravens | LB | Hamstring | Out |
| Joe Alt | Los Angeles Chargers | OT | Ankle | Out |
| Taylor Moton | Carolina Panthers | OT | Elbow | Out |
| Kenny Moore | Indianapolis Colts | CB | Achilles | Out |
| Christian Watson | Green Bay Packers | WR | ACL | Out |
| Alim McNeill | Detroit Lions | DT | Knee | Out |
| Chidobe Awuzie | Baltimore Ravens | CB | Hamstring | Out |
| Trey Pipkins | Los Angeles Chargers | OT | Knee | Out |
| Devonte Wyatt | Green Bay Packers | DL | Knee | Out |
| Zach Cunningham | Detroit Lions | LB | Hamstring | Out |
| Brock Bowers | Las Vegas Raiders | TE | Knee | Out |
| Terrion Arnold | Detroit Lions | CB | Shoulder | Out |
| Arden Key | Tennessee Titans | EDGE | Quad | Out |
| Yetur Gross-Matos | San Francisco 49ers | EDGE | Hamstring | Out |
| Kevin Givens | San Francisco 49ers | DT | Pectoral | Out |
| Tershawn Wharton | Carolina Panthers | DT | Toe | Out |
| Ricky Pearsall | San Francisco 49ers | WR | Hamstring | Out |
| Chuba Hubbard | Carolina Panthers | RB | Calf | Out |
| Bucky Irving | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB | Foot/Shoulder | Out |
| Allen Lazard | New York Jets | WR | Personal | Out |
| Devontez Walker | Baltimore Ravens | WR | Oblique | Out |
| Michael Carter | Arizona Cardinals | RB | Concussion | Out |
| Kavontae Turpin | Dallas Cowboys | WR/RET | Foot | Out |
| Sione Vaki | Detroit Lions | DB/RB | Groin | Out |
| Anfernee Jennings | New England Patriots | LB | Ankle | Out |
| Keion White | New England Patriots | DL/EDGE | Elbow | Out |
| Darius Robinson | Arizona Cardinals | DL/EDGE | Pectoral | Out |
| Joey Slye | Washington Commanders | K | Calf | Out |
| Damar Hamlin | Buffalo Bills | S | Pectoral | Out |
| Matt Milano | Buffalo Bills | LB | Pectoral | Out |
| T.J. Sanders | Buffalo Bills | DT | Knee | Out |
| Tyler Booker | Dallas Cowboys | G | Calf | Out |
Among these, several stand out for their game-altering roles:
Lamar Jackson: The reigning MVP-level quarterback is the engine of Baltimore’s offense. His absence alters both the Ravens’ identity and win probability, forcing a reliance on backups and conservative schemes.
Brock Purdy: San Francisco’s high-efficiency QB is sidelined, creating a major scheme recalibration and limiting the 49ers’ explosive offensive potential.
CeeDee Lamb: Dallas’ WR1 commands defensive attention. Without him, the Cowboys’ passing game and third-down/red-zone efficiency take a significant hit.
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin: Tampa Bay loses its primary vertical and slot threats, gutting the passing structure and shrinking the Buccaneers’ offensive ceiling.
Roquan Smith: The All-Pro MIKE linebacker anchors the defense; his absence weakens run fits, coverage calls, and overall defensive stability.
Joe Alt and Trey Pipkins: Losing starting tackles compounds protection issues, affecting both passing efficiency and the ground game.
Secondary contributors like Christian Watson, Chuba Hubbard, and Joey Slye also influence rotations and situational schemes, emphasizing how injuries cascade beyond individual roles. Week 6 Sunday games will be heavily influenced by these absences, highlighting the importance of depth, schematics, and adaptability in the NFL’s injury-laden landscape.
Mandatory Image Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
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