Rob Gronkowski, Dez Bryant, and the NFL’s 10 most impactful injuries for Week 6

Through five weeks of the season, no teams have been more injured than the Browns, Cowboys, and Steelers. That likely won’t change in Week 6, when all three teams still dealing with various injuries to major players.

Two big names are expected to return to the field this week, however. Both Cam Newton and Carson Palmer sustained concussions in Week 4 and sat out the next game. The Arizona Cardinals were able to win without their veteran quarterback, but the Carolina Panthers fell in an ugly Monday Night Football contest due in part to backup quarterback Derek Anderson’s three turnovers. This week, both starters should be back under center.

Other teams will be missing key players — potentially, at least — and it could help decide their games.

The argument could be made that safety Reshad Jones is the most important player on the Dolphins at the moment. The Fins are reeling on both sides of the ball, and things are looking bad. They’re in the bottom half of every statistical category, and there are no signs of that changing.

Jones was a Pro Bowler last year, and with the Dolphins going against the Steelers’ high-octane offense, they absolutely need him. He was limited in practice on Friday:

Luckily for the Dolphins, the Steelers may be short on receivers.

Status: Game-time decision He’s playing

The Carolina Panthers are coming of a horrible loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. They did everything they could to give the game away, and despite two missed field goals, the Bucs still came out on top. This week against another NFC South opponent, rookie cornerback James Bradberry’s absence is big in a critical game for the Panthers.

The Saints have a good, young group of receivers and the Panthers defense isn’t quite as ferocious as it was last season. Bradberry has had the responsibility of covering guys like Demaryius Thomas and Stefon Diggs this year, so despite his youth, he’s an important piece of the secondary.

Status: Out

Rob Gronkowski has been dealing with a hamstring injury, and missed practice in its entirety Friday due to an illness, according to Adam Schefter. Gronkowski is coming off a great week against the Browns in which he had five catches for 109 yards.

His hamstring has been giving him fits since August when he injured it in practice against the Bears. The Patriots have Tom Brady back, so his absence isn’t as great as it was when Jimmy Garoppolo was under center, but it’s still a notable injury. The Patriots are a better team with him on the field.

Status: Questionable He’s playing.

Could this be the week that Dez Bryant returns? We haven’t seen him since Week 3, but the Cowboys have been doing just fine without him. Sunday against the Packers, his services might be needed just in case.

The Dallas Morning News’ Brandon George doesn’t think that the Cowboys will push Bryant back, and that doesn’t seem like a bad plan.

Jerry Jones wasn’t so quick to go there. “He makes a difference when he’s on the field, so I’d like to see him go,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan’s G-Bag Nation show, via SportsDay. “I do know that he’s getting a lot of work in.” If you’re a Cowboys fan, there’s your little bit of optimism.

If the Cowboys had looked worse through the first five weeks of the season, they’d be lower. But there’s no need to be too concerned yet.

Status: Questionable Out.

The Panthers are going to be in must-win mode for at least the next few weeks. They’ve fallen to 1-4, far from the 15-1 season and Super Bowl appearance they had last season. Even with Cam Newton’s likely return, he could be without two of his best weapons.

For what it’s worth, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reported that Ron Rivera feels good about “all of the questionable guys playing,” so that should be a good sign for Carolina. And boy do they need all the help they can get right now.

The bright side: The Saints are 31st in the NFL in defense.

Status: Questionable Both are a go for this week.

The Cleveland Browns don’t have a wealth of talent on their team, but Joe Haden is a star. His status for Sunday is up in the air thanks to a groin injury. Nobody on the Browns is certain whether he will be able to go.

Hue Jackson said that the team will be ready regardless of Haden’s status. They don’t exactly have a choice there, but perhaps going up against the Titans will help.

Status: Questionable He’s out.

The New York Jets defense isn’t what it was last season, and it isn’t what we expected it to be this season. They’re 23rd in the NFL in defense, giving up 371.4 yards per game. Some think that Revis isn’t the player he used to be, but those might be overreactions. One thing that isn’t an overreaction, injury concerns surrounding the 31-year-old:

Revis has made progress, but the Jets might lean toward protecting him. Then again, the Jets are 1-4, and can’t really afford many more losses. It’s just a bad situation for them, especially going against a Cardinals team that’s also playing with a sense of urgency at 2-3 on the season.

Status: Doubtful

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ fifth-ranked offense has been led by Ben Roethlisberger, who is fourth in the league in passing yards. Antonio Brown is still one of the best receivers in the league, but currently stands at eighth in receiving yards.

One reason why Brown’s numbers aren’t quite as high as usual is because he’s had company this year. Teammate Sammie Coates is ninth in the league in receiving. The threat of having Coates and Wheaton has been a plus for the Steelers’ prolific offense. Coates has been nursing a finger injury, and is questionable for Sunday.

Wheaton, on the other hand, will be out with a shoulder injury. If Coates is unable to play as well, it would be a big help for the Dolphins who have one of the worst defenses in the league lock in on Antonio Brown.

Status: Coates is a game-time decision. He’s playing, Wheaton is out

The Detroit Lions don’t do many things on the football field well. One thing they are decent at is the passing game. Marvin Jones currently leads the NFL in receiving yards with 519, and he won’t be missing Sunday’s game against the Rams. It’s the losses of Anquan Boldin and Eric Ebron that could be a concern.

With two fewer receivers to focus on, it makes covering Jones a heck of a lot easier. The Rams are the worst offensive team in the league in terms of yards, and rely heavily on their defense. To be able to zero in on Jones really would work in the Rams’ favor, and give them a better shot on Sunday.

Boldin has been limited in practice this week, and Ebron has not practiced at all. The Lions will certainly be hoping that Boldin will be able to go at the very least.

Status: Boldin is playing; Ebron is not.

Colin Kaepernick is making his first start of the NFL season, and he might be without offensive guard Zane Beadles. He hasn’t been to a Pro Bowl since 2012, but Beadles has still been an effective lineman in the NFL since he was drafted in 2010. Kaepernick is going to need all the help he can get in his first start since Week 8 of last season.

Beadles has been limited in practice all week. Only the Rams are worse on offense than the 49ers, who rank 31st in the NFL with yards 291.4 yards per game.

Although he might not be the same player he was four years ago, Beadles’ experience on the line would be a pretty significant loss for Kaepernick in Buffalo Sunday.

Status: Questionable He’s playing.

The Browns have major concerns with Thomas.

He should be fine.

Status: Playing (and balding)