Welcome back, suspended players! Cowboys, Chargers, Jets get big help

We are entering Week 5 of the NFL after Monday night's game, and that means the return of several high-profile NFL players who committed some kind of no-nos that cost them the first quarter of the season.

The Dallas Cowboys, who have been ravaged by injuries, get back defensive end Greg Hardy and linebacker Rolando McClain, and perhaps not a moment too soon. Linebacker Sean Lee left the loss Sunday night to the New Orleans Saints with a concussion, and promising defensive end Randy Gregory remains out.

On tap for the Cowboys in Week 5: the New England Patriots, coming off a bye. Good luck, Brandon Weeden! (Or Matt Cassel?)

The New York Jets roll into the bye week a surprising 3-1 and look like the one team in the AFC East that has the defense that can keep the Patriots in check. This week, they get Sheldon Richardson back on a defense that ranks second in the NFL in yards allowed (280.3), fourth in first downs per game allowed (16.8) and first in points allowed (13.8). If there's one area that could improve, it's the run defense — and, boom, that's where Richardson is considered one of the league's best in that capacity.

The San Diego Chargers are a weird team, in OK shape at 2-2 but perhaps a bit of fools' gold, having been outscored by two touchdowns over the four games. But future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates is back now, and he joins an offense that could use another playmaker. Fellow tight end Ladarius Green scored in Week 3 but has been maddeningly inconsistent (and unavailable), and receiver Keenan Allen could use a little help out there.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have to feel better now that they can get Martavis Bryant back to an offense that has hit the skids — at least in the passing game — since Ben Roethlisberger got hurt. Mike Vick might be limited, but he still can throw vertically. Having Bryant to stretch the field, and even asking Vick just to look Bryant's way 3-4 times down the field per game, should help open things up over these next few tricky games before Ben returns. 

There are other players returning from suspensions this week, too, but these are the big dogs. And they could provide much-needed boosts for their respective teams.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm