Noah Strackbein· Aug 29, 2026

Strackbein predicts the Steelers will keep six wide receivers on the 53-man roster: DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Ben Skowronek and Kaden Wetjen.

“DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Ben Skowronek and Kaden Wetjen have felt like the six wideouts Pittsburgh will keep since day one”

published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →

6 checkable claims — 6 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

All 6 have settled, averaging 100 out of 100, against 66.7 for a naive guess at the same calls.

Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →

Who this take is about

6 checkable claims in this take

Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.

Roster Spot Calls Michael Pittman Pittsburgh SteelersAug 29, 2026
Michael Pittman to make the roster
“DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Ben Skowronek and Kaden Wetjen have felt like the six wideouts Pittsburgh will keep since day one”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
PIT
skill:
0
player:
347b0003-1df3-4f25-82cd-0288918c96d4
season:
2026
claimed:
he makes the 53
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
1
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
1
weeks on the practice squad:
0
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Ben Skowronek Pittsburgh SteelersAug 29, 2026
Ben Skowronek to make the roster
“DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Ben Skowronek and Kaden Wetjen have felt like the six wideouts Pittsburgh will keep since day one”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
PIT
skill:
0
player:
2b76ff3e-255d-4f33-a427-0c7d62fb9f45
season:
2026
claimed:
he makes the 53
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
1
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
1
weeks on the practice squad:
0
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls DK Metcalf Pittsburgh SteelersAug 29, 2026
DK Metcalf to make the roster
“DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Ben Skowronek and Kaden Wetjen have felt like the six wideouts Pittsburgh will keep since day one”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
PIT
skill:
0
player:
1d8b271e-e4c2-43bd-972a-ffe963fa49ff
season:
2026
claimed:
he makes the 53
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
1
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
1
weeks on the practice squad:
0
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Kaden Wetjen Pittsburgh SteelersAug 29, 2026
Kaden Wetjen to make the roster
“DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Ben Skowronek and Kaden Wetjen have felt like the six wideouts Pittsburgh will keep since day one”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skill
How this was scored
club:
PIT
skill:
200
player:
2d655a92-fb83-45c2-929c-268ed683889e
season:
2026
claimed:
he makes the 53
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
1
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
1
weeks on the practice squad:
0
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Germie Bernard Pittsburgh SteelersAug 29, 2026
Germie Bernard to make the roster
“DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Ben Skowronek and Kaden Wetjen have felt like the six wideouts Pittsburgh will keep since day one”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skill
How this was scored
club:
PIT
skill:
200
player:
44b99555-21a8-4311-bbd4-e40633807f65
season:
2026
claimed:
he makes the 53
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
1
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
1
weeks on the practice squad:
0
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Roman Wilson Pittsburgh SteelersAug 29, 2026
Roman Wilson to make the roster
“DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Ben Skowronek and Kaden Wetjen have felt like the six wideouts Pittsburgh will keep since day one”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
PIT
skill:
0
player:
f6f4122f-b43f-4d89-b044-1c1b4665728f
season:
2026
claimed:
he makes the 53
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
1
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
1
weeks on the practice squad:
0
Think this is wrong?

What others said about the same people

Jason McIntyreTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldMiss · 0
Filling in for Colin Cowherd, McIntyre argued the 49ers' window is closed amid a brutal injury list and record travel, floated a Bijan Robinson trade to the Bears, predicted the Lions can win the NFC North, doubted Atlanta is even a playoff team, said Baker Mayfield's Tampa run ends after this season, and delivered a top-10 quarterback ranking.
Evan SilvaFantasy Defense Calls · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100
In his 2020 fantasy defense/special teams rankings, Silva puts the Steelers first, the 49ers second and the Ravens third, citing pass rush, favorable early schedules and game scripts.
Jordan DajaniGame Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100
Dajani expects the Steelers to comfortably beat the Falcons in Week 1, arguing Atlanta's quarterback situation under Tua Tagovailoa is a mess; he also picks the Vikings to beat the Packers in a low-scoring game.
Chad MillmanGame Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100
Millman backed several week one sides outright: Miami to beat the Raiders straight up, the Jets over the Titans, an underdog money line parlay of Houston and the Giants, and a favorites money line parlay of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Detroit. He also stands by his preseason take that Drake Maye is a top-five NFL quarterback.
Simon HunterGame Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100
Hunter picked Houston and the Giants as underdog money line plays, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Detroit as favorites, and used Pittsburgh plus the Chargers as his survivor picks for week one.
Danny ParkinsGame Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100
Parkins picked the Giants to upset Dallas, the Steelers to beat Atlanta by two scores, the Bears to beat Carolina, the Bills to beat Houston and Denver to beat Kansas City outright; he also said Justin Herbert will win an MVP and had the Bengals as AFC North champs.

More roster spot calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

John ShipleyRoster Spot Calls · Jack KiserMiss · 0
Shipley projects a full 16-player (plus one international/exemption spot) Jaguars practice squad for 2026, naming specific players at each position he expects to land there.
Cody RourkeRoster Spot Calls · Mitchell FraboniMiss · 0
Rourke names the Ravens as the bounce-back team most likely to be dangerous in the AFC again, and says Houston's defense alone should carry the Texans into the postseason. He also expects long snapper Mitchell Fraboni to be one of Denver's practice-squad elevations for the Chiefs game, and slots Pat Bryant as Denver's third receiver behind Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle.
Sayre BedingerRoster Spot Calls · Adam PrenticeMiss · 0
Benninger expects Houston's elite defense to make them either a division winner or a wild card team, thinks Marvin Mims was trending toward being Denver's fourth receiver rather than just the return man, and figures Adam Prentice will be the Broncos' other practice-squad call-up.
Bob MorrisRoster Spot Calls · Adam PrenticeHit · 100
Morris predicts Jarrett Stidham holds the backup QB job behind Bo Nix, Adam Prentice makes the 53-man roster as the fullback/fourth back, and Lucas Krull gets cut.
Erick TrickelRoster Spot Calls · Adam PrenticeHit · 100
After the Broncos' preseason opener, Trickel argued fullback Adam Prentice has shown enough value to earn a spot on the 53-man roster ahead of the team's fourth running back options (Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, Cody Schrader).
Nick ShookRoster Spot Calls · Aaron DonaldHit · 100
Shook unveiled his first NFL power rankings of the year, putting the Rams first, the Broncos second and the defending champion Seahawks only third, with the Dolphins last.

Who this take is about

6 checkable claims in this take

What others said about the same people

More roster spot calls

Discussed alongside these