Colby Parkinson and Jaylen Watson are two other names on the list of players expected to take the field at SoFi Stadium. Having all their key pieces available is essential for the Rams to counter Josh Allen and the Bills.

Despite coming out of retirement after a few years away, Donald remains an indispensable pillar of the defense. The No. 99 is slowly regaining the form that made him one of the best players at his position.

Donald has already shown flashes of his former self

After stepping away from the game in March 2024, Aaron Donald shocked the league by officially coming out of retirement in late August 2026 to rejoin the Rams on a one-year deal. Because he missed all of training camp and preseason, Los Angeles has eased him back into the defense with heavy rotational usage rather than his traditional full-game workload.

Through his limited action in the early part of the 2026 campaign, the iconic defensive tackle has served as a situational pass-rusher and run stopper while slowly building back his game conditioning.

Donald’s recent injury concerns

Just as he was starting to build momentum in his 2026 comeback, Aaron Donald hit a quick bump in the road with a lower back injury. After experiencing flare-ups and muscle soreness leading into Week 4, the Rams held him out of practice and ruled him out against the Philadelphia Eagles as a precautionary measure to avoid any long-term setbacks.

The good news for L.A. is that the injury wasn’t severe—he returned to practice as a full participant ahead of Week 5 and expressed confidence about being back on the field.

Key takeaways

• Aaron Donald is expected to be available for the Rams after missing Week 4.
• Aaron Donald came out of retirement in late August 2026 on a one-year deal.
• Aaron Donald missed Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles due to a lower back injury.

On the Rams‘ side, there are no surprises at the quarterback position, with Matthew Stafford as the starter seeking his MVP form, Stetson Bennett IV as the primary backup (second string), and Ty Simpson serving as the third-string QB.

For the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen takes the field as the starter, maintaining an exceptional level over recent seasons while still striving to prove himself in the playoffs. Kyle Allen serves as his backup.

How the Stafford vs Allen matchup stacks up

When Matthew Stafford and Josh Allen are playing their best, they are both top-five quarterbacks in the NFL. These are the 2024 and 2025 NFL MVPs, which puts into perspective what they can deliver on the field.

However, that has not been the case this season, especially for Stafford, who is off to a slow start. From a pure talent standpoint, these two players are pretty even. Based on the first four games, Allen has clearly been the better quarterback. Allen is fifth in EPA per play while Stafford is 18th.

How both teams enter with injuries

Head coach Sean McVay said Lake was making progress in his recovery. Defensive lineman Aaron Donald, cornerback Jaylen Watson, and tight end Colby Parkinson are all back in action after missing Week 4.

For the Bills, receiver Josh Palmer and defensive tackle Ed Oliver have been ruled out. Rookie wideout Sky Bell, a one-time potential Rams draft prospect, will be active for the first time this season. WR1 DJ Moore is also questionable, alongside defensive end Landon Jackson and cornerback Dee Alford.

Key takeaways

• Matthew Stafford is LA’s QB1, backed by Stetson Bennett IV and Ty Simpson.
• Josh Allen leads Buffalo as QB1, backed by Kyle Allen.
• Aaron Donald, Jaylen Watson, and Colby Parkinson return for Los Angeles.

As San Francisco took over possession and simply kneeled out the clock to secure a crucial NFC West win and become one of two teams to improve to 5-0 on the season, fans across social media erupted. However, Kupp shut down the buzz with a blunt comment.

“I knew it was close, but clearly it was short,” Kupp admitted after the 32-29 loss at home, per Seahawks.com. “There’s not enough there, I’ve got to find a way to get that fourth down.”

Coach Macdonald accepts referee’s call

Kupp wasn’t the only member of the Seahawks to speak out about the controversial decision, as head coach Mike Macdonald didn’t mince words and also agreed with the referee’s call.

As tough a pill as it is to swallow, the Seahawks are choosing to move on. It’s a long season, and they aren’t dwelling on the disheartening, last-minute defeat filled with controversy against their despised divisional foes, the Niners.

“[The match officials] said he was short, so we’ve got to live with it,” Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald stated, via the team’s official website.

Seattle and San Francisco will meet again

This won’t be their last meeting, as the Seahawks and Niners will play again on Nov. 29 at Levi’s Stadium. Judging by the way both franchises are playing, they may be in for a third duel in the postseason, as well.

Key takeaways

• The Seattle Seahawks lost 32-29 to the San Francisco 49ers after a short ruling.
• Cooper Kupp admitted he was clearly short of gaining the fourth-down line.
• The Seahawks and 49ers will play again on Nov. 29 at Levi’s Stadium.

Garrett is not available when the Rams take on quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills, according to McVay: “It’s week to week in terms of how he feels, but I would say it’s more likely that we do not start his clock next week.”

Garrett is still recovering from a knee injury that required surgery after the Rams’ Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Monday night against the Buffalo Bills will mark Garrett’s fourth game missed, meaning he would be eligible to come off IR, but he needs more time before being activated.

When will Garrett return?

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network previously reported that Garrett was given a six-week timeline, which would put him on track to return in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Garrett has only played one game for the Rams this season after being acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Browns back in June. In Garrett’s place, Josaiah Stewart has stepped up as a starter alongside Byron Young. The Rams have also given snaps to rookie Wesley Bailey and Desjuan Johnson.

Assuming Garrett does not play next week, when he is first eligible to return, the Rams‘ next game is against the Raiders in Week 7, followed by their matchup with the Chargers in Week 8. As a result, he is set to miss a fifth game.

Unremarkable numbers for the backups

Stewart has 11 total tackles in four games played, but he has not recorded a sack this season. Desjuan Johnson and Wesley Bailey could also be considered backup options.

Key takeaways

• A knee injury requiring surgery keeps Myles Garrett out of Los Angeles’ Week 5 game.
• Week 8 against the Chargers is targeted for Myles Garrett’s return from injury.
• Josaiah Stewart has stepped up as a starter for the Rams without Myles Garrett.

The Bills have miracle-maker Josh Allen on the roster, but the receiver’s room is not precisely healthy. He could have second-tier weapons having to step up in this game. It will all depend on how the depth chart ends up looking. You can also check on the RB depth charts for the Rams vs Bills game.

As for the Rams, star wideout Puka Nacua has dealt with some sports hernia injury but it seems he is playing through the injury. That is an incredible sign for quarterback Matthew Stafford, whose chemistry with Nacua is unmatched.

Bills WR depth chart vs Rams

Star wideout DJ Moore is out. It all depended on how Moore was feeling regarding his AC joint strain in his shoulder, and it seems he won’t be fit to play. Joshua Palmer and Tyrell Shavers are also out. This is the depth chart for this game:

• DJ Moore (questionable, game-time decision)
• Khalil Shakir
• Keon Coleman
• Greg Dortch
• Skyler Bell
• Trent Sherfield

Rams WR depth chart vs Bills

The Rams have a healthier wide receiver room than the Bills. Also, they are loaded with talent, which means they could go all out in full force against the Bills in this Monday Night Football game. This is their depth chart for MNF vs Bills:

• Puka Nacua
• Davante Adams
• Konata Mumpfield
• Jordan Whittington
• Tutu Atwell
• Alex Bachman
• CJ Daniels

Warren has 126 or more yards in three straight weeks without Dowdle. When he gets 20 or plus touches, he produces at one of the highest rates in the NFL. McCarthy said “Jaylen (Warren) is our feature player right now.” He also said that Dowdle is nearing a return, but the team will give Warren plenty of touches.

Also, Aaron Rodgers slammed media favorites and defended Jaylen Warren. That’s how good he’s been. Warren is a dual-threat back, so he helps Rodgers a lot on play-action and checkdowns.

Warren’s numbers are actually incredible

Jaylen Warren has 410 rushing yards, 230 receiving yards, and a total of two touchdowns in just five weeks. As of now, he ranks sixth in rushing yards, however he is the one with the least rushing attempts in the top 11.

Warren is also third in yards per attempt with 5.9, just below Kenneth Walker III (6.2) and James Cook III (6.0). All in all, Warren is proving to be a borderline elite weapon for the Steelers.

What does this mean for Rico Dowdle?

Dowdle was brought into this team to be a 1-2 punch alongside Warren. However that might change. Of course, the Steelers won’t want to burn Warren, but if he is taking 20 touches, then Dowdle must make Warren dip a bit. Still, judging by the words of McCarthy, Warren won’t have less than 15-17 touches.

In fact, if the Steelers are somewhat clever, they should trade Rico Dowdle to an RB-needy team like the Eagles, whose RB depth chart is dealing with plenty of injuries, or the Seahawks, who miss Kenneth Walker III a lot and have no running game.

Key takeaways

• Head coach Mike McCarthy named Jaylen Warren the Steelers’ feature player moving forward.
• Jaylen Warren logged 410 rushing yards and 230 receiving yards over five weeks.
• Warren ranks third in the NFL averaging 5.9 yards per rushing attempt.

The Rams have an in-form Kyren Williams who is on an absolute roll. In fact, the so-called committee with Blake Corum has been dissipated due to Williams’ talent and proficiency.

As for the Bills, quarterback Josh Allen adds a lot to the running game, but James Cook is fresh off a season where he led the NFL in rushing yards and led the league in rushing touchdowns in 2024.

Rams RB depth chart vs Bills

The Rams are the 11th-best rushing offense so far in the 2026 NFL season. They average 126.8 rushing yards per game, though Williams is also highly-important in the passing game. This is the Rams RB depth chart vs Bills:

• Kyren Williams
• Blake Corum
• Dean Connors

Bills RB depth chart vs Rams

The Bills are a very good offense and James Cook is very talented. He has explosiveness on his side, but the Bills also give a fair share of snaps to their other running backs. This is their depth chart:

• James Cook III
• Ray Davis
• Ty Johnson

Key takeaways

• Kyren Williams’ strong form dissipated his running back committee with Blake Corum.
• James Cook III led the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns in 2024.
• The Rams feature the 11th-best rushing offense in the 2026 NFL season.

According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Minter revealed that Jackson is “definitely doing better” with his injury. However, he is still unsure whether Jackson will practice on Wednesday.

The head coach also added: “He’s doing everything he can to get back out there.” Will the Ravens get their star back on the field next weekend?

What injury is Lamar Jackson dealing with?

Jackson suffered a left ankle sprain during the second quarter of Baltimore‘s Week 4 victory over the Tennessee Titans when his ankle twisted awkwardly under a hit. Though he initially tried to tough it out, he was eventually ruled out for the second half and spent the following week in a protective walking boot.

After sitting out practice all week, Jackson was ruled out for the Ravens’ Week 5 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, handing starting duties over to Tyler Huntley. The good news for Baltimore is that the injury isn’t expected to keep him down for long, with reports indicating “some hope” that he can return to action this weekend.

Everything changes with Lamar on the field

When healthy through the first four weeks of the 2026 NFL season, Lamar Jackson was operating at an absolute MVP level and putting on a masterclass in efficiency. Shredding defenses through the air with a blazing 70.8% completion rate and a stellar 119.6 passer rating, Jackson was averaging over 10 yards per pass attempt while giving up just a single interception.

Beyond his pinpoint accuracy downfield, he continued to be a nightmare on the ground, tacking on 144 rushing yards to keep Baltimore’s offense operating at peak output.

Key takeaways

• Jesse Minter stated Lamar Jackson is “definitely doing better” following his injury.
• Lamar Jackson suffered a left ankle sprain in Week 4 against the Titans.
• Lamar Jackson achieved a 70.8% completion rate through the season’s first four weeks.

For instance, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes also got injured in the same day of Parsons, and he not only returned in time for the 2026 NFL Week 1, but he has been playing very well. Parsons wasn’t even close to that and his return is still nowhere near of happening.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Parsons is not even expected to return to practice this week. The more realistic timeline for him to return is November. However, Schefter also stated that the Packers hope he comes back by the end of october.

Parsons was a wrecking ball for the Packers before the injury

In his first 14 games after his blockbuster trade from the Dallas Cowboys, Parsons was an absolute force for the Green Bay Packers. He racked up 12.5 sacks, 27 quarterback hits, and 12 tackles for loss, earning first-team All-Pro honors despite missing the end of the year.

The Packers’ defense felt his absence immediately. After he suffered the torn ACL, Green Bay collapsed. They didn’t win a single game for the rest of the season and ultimately blew a 21-3 lead to the Chicago Bears in the playoffs.

Is the Packers defense good without Parsons?

It’s more or less good. The Packers are the fourth-best passing defense in the NFL. However, they are the seventh-worst rushing defense. The Packers are seventh in the NFL in sacks with 14 so far.

Still, adding Parsons back to the roster is very important for the Packers. When healthy, Parsons is an elite pass rusher, and overall game-wrecker. With him, the Packers are considerably better.

Key takeaways

• Micah Parsons is not expected to return to Packers practice this week.
• Adam Schefter reported November as the realistic return timeline, though October remains possible.
• Green Bay recorded 12.5 sacks in 14 games from Micah Parsons before his injury.

Back in Week 1, Nabers wasn’t simply a game-time decision but in a somewhat limited capacity, too. In Weeks 4 and 5, Nabers is a revenant, playing as many snaps as the next guy, and running more routes than anyone else. Not just in New York, but in the NFL entirely.

According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats and Sumer Sports, Nabers has ran a total of 88 routes, the most among all wideouts in the league, over the past two weeks. If the G-Men had any concern about over-utilizing Nabers or the wear-and-tear on his right knee, the numbers clearly tell a different story.

Nabers’ Week 5 performance

Following the dramatic 27-27 tie against the Washington Commanders, John Harbaugh had some advice for Cam Skattebo, whose overtime fumble cost the team a shot at winning the game.

Still, it’s clear the head coach didn’t have much to tell Nabers, who played lights out, came down with clutch catches, and finished the rainy afternoon in Landover with 11 receptions for 121 yards and a TD. Nabers did have nine drops, but the wet conditions and the Commanders’ defense deserve some of the credit for that, as well.

Winston is finding Nabers

Much can be said about Jameis Winston’s performance since filling in for Jaxson Dart at the QB1 position, but it’s clear he’s making the most of his weapons, mostly Nabers and Isaiah Likely. Winston isn’t letting Nabers go out and do some cardio on the field.

If Nabers is running routes, Winston is looking his way more often than not. Nabers’ 27 targets in Weeks 4 and 5 lead the NFL, as do his 233 receiving yards. The former LSU wideout has caught 17 passes and two touchdowns, which are second among WRs over this period, too. Only CeeDee Lamb (19 catches) has more than Nabers in the last two games.

Knock on wood, Nabers is back, and he is sending all the right signals to John Harbaugh and the Giants’ coaching staff. Keep sending the targets his way, as he isn’t showing any signs of discomfort or fatigue.

Nabers in for intriguing matchup in Week 6

Up next, a matchup with the New Orleans Saints awaits. Nabers won’t get to play back in his home state of Louisiana, but he will face a defense that has allowed an average of 212 receiving yards per game during the 2026 NFL season, according to ESPN. Nabers saw what fellow LSU alum Justin Jefferson recently did to the Saints, and he will want to follow suit.

Key takeaways

• Malik Nabers ran 88 routes over Weeks 4 and 5, leading all NFL wide receivers.
• Malik Nabers led the NFL with 27 targets and 233 receiving yards across the past two games.
• The New York Giants will face the New Orleans Saints in Week 6.

The fourth quarter had 10:33 left to play and the Chargers were up 17-10 on the scoreboard. There was a 4th-and-1 play and the Chargers went for it. The Chargers failed to convert and gave the Broncos a short field. The Broncos ended up coming back and winning the game.

Harbaugh was filled with self-rage after the game. “I can’t think of a time where I’ve been more mad at myself,” Harbaugh said postgame, via Anthony Gharib of ESPN. He then added, “This team works so hard, played so valiantly. And yeah, I take 100% accountability for making that decision and turned the momentum of the game. So it was the wrong one, and I got to be right on those.”

The Chargers are arguably the most disappointing team in the NFL

Just three teams are 0-5 in the 2026 NFL season. Two of those teams were sort of predicted to be 0-5. The Miami Dolphins are in a full-on rebuild, while the Tennessee Titans are trying to figure out what they have in sophomore QB Cam Ward and the new regime between HC Robert Saleh and OC Brian Daboll. Meanwhile, the Chargers were supposed to be a Super Bowl contender.

Hence, them being 0-5 is absolutely shocking. Justin Herbert is playing at an all-time low, the running game is extremely defficient, the defense has taken a dip, and the team as whole looks to be in a black hole.

The Chargers schedule is still abysmal for them

The next games are as tough as they come for the Chargers. Hence, the team could be on the verge of absolute chaos as if things weren’t bad enough already. This is the schedule that remains for the Chargers:

• Week 6 at Kansas City
• Week 7 BYE
• Week 8 at Los Angeles (Rams)
• Week 9 vs Texans
• Week 10 at Baltimore
• Week 11 vs Jets
• Week 12 vs Patriots
• Week 13 at Tampa Bay
• Week 14 at Las Vegas
• Week 15 vs 49ers
• Week 16 at Miami
• Week 17 vs Chiefs
• Week 18 at Denver

Key takeaways

• The Chargers failed to convert a 4th-and-1 in the fourth quarter, leading to Denver’s comeback win.
• Head coach Jim Harbaugh took full accountability for making the wrong fourth-down decision.
• Los Angeles is one of three 0-5 teams in the 2026 NFL season.