Trevor Ripley· Sep 24, 2026
Ripley argues the Vikings should elevate Jerome Ford from the practice squad and expects he may see work Sunday, that Kyle Van Noy's final elevation will force a 53-man roster move with cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn (or center Nick Samac) the likely casualty, and that safety Jay Ward could be traded for a late Day 3 pick.
“Ford has been with the team for just over a week, but it's possible he gets some work already on Sunday.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
5 checkable claims — 4 roster spot calls and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
2 of 5 have settled so far, averaging 50 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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Who this take is about
5 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 CallsKyle Van NoyMinnesota VikingsSep 24, 2026
Kyle Van Noy to make the roster
“This Sunday will likely mark Kyle Van Noy's third and final practice squad elevation. League rules allow players three elevations before they need to be officially moved to the 53-man roster, meaning Van Noy will be booting someone off the roster in the coming days.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-189 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- MIN
- skill:
- -189
- player:
- Kyle Van Noy
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he does not make the 53
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- reported:
- made the 53
- settled by:
- a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
- difficulty:
- 1.89
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 16
- Roster Spot CallsZemaiah VaughnMinnesota VikingsSep 24, 2026
Zemaiah Vaughn to make the roster
“The most likely candidate to get bumped is cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn ... likely would slide through waivers and make it back to the practice squad”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- MIN
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Zemaiah Vaughn
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 1.89
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 16
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Trade and Signing CallsJay WardSep 24, 2026
Jay Ward to move — “may be traded for a late Day 3 pick”
“The 26-year-old Ward may be a possible trade candidate if Minnesota can't find a spot for him ... trading Ward for a late Day 3 pick may be more valuable than the couple of special teams reps he's giving the team now.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsJerome FordMinnesota VikingsSep 24, 2026
Jerome Ford to make the roster
“1. Elevate Jerome Ford off the practice squad ... Ford has been with the team for just over a week, but it's possible he gets some work already on Sunday.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsNick SamacMinnesota VikingsSep 24, 2026
Nick Samac to make the roster
“Another possible option could be backup center Nick Samac, who has also been inactive for back-to-back weeks”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Fox SportsRoster Spot Calls · J.J. McCarthyHit · 100FOX Sports projects Kyle McCord as Miami's backup behind starter Malik Willis, Mitchell Trubisky as Tennessee's primary backup behind starter Cam Ward, and J.J. McCarthy making the Vikings' 53-man roster.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Carson WentzHit · 100An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Carson WentzHit · 100PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a series of depth-chart, roster and usage projections based on final-week preseason snap counts, including Ja'Kobi Lane locking down the Ravens' third receiver role, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Kyle Pitts facing reduced 12-personnel usage, Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2 and Emmett Johnson as the Chiefs' backup running back.
- Tom JensenRoster Spot Calls · T.J. HockensonMiss · 0NFL.com published a list of players it expects to be released by cutdown day, headlined by tight ends Dawson Knox, T.J. Hockenson and Cole Kmet.
- Jason HarmonRoster Spot Calls · Elijah WilliamsHit · 100Harmon suggests rookie running back Demond Claiborne's ball-security problems will limit him to a special-usage role rather than a larger one, and that second-year defensive lineman Elijah Williams is building a case to make the Vikings' 53-man roster. He also frames Dallas Turner as ready to step in as Jonathan Greenard's replacement.
- Adam CarlsonRoster Spot Calls · Demond ClaiborneHit · 100Carlson argues that rookie Demond Claiborne's strong training camp will force the Vikings to keep him as the third running back on the 53-man roster, at the expense of Zavier Scott, who would be cut.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Devin DuvernayHit · 100PFF's preseason usage recap makes a number of depth-chart and roster projections, including nine rookie receivers slotting as top-three options on their teams, sleeper tight end usage, and specific depth-chart placements for Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens players.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Ameer AbdullahHit · 100An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2.
- Noah ComptonRoster Spot Calls · Caden CurryHit · 100After the Colts' preseason finale loss to Detroit, Compton projected several roster and depth-chart outcomes: Daniel Jones as the starting quarterback, rookie A.J. Haulcy as the starting strong safety, Seth McGowan as the backup running back, and rookie defensive ends George Gumbs Jr. and Caden Curry making the initial 53-man roster, while receiver Deion Burks appears likely to be cut.
- Patricia TrainaRoster Spot Calls · Paulson AdeboHit · 100Traina projects the Giants' initial 53-man roster position by position, naming who makes the team and who lands on the practice squad, including keeping Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Evan Neal (with a possible trade), Dalen Cambre over Braxton Berrios, Lucas Patrick as backup center, and Dominic Zvada as the kicker.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Devin DuvernayHit · 100PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a series of depth-chart, roster and usage projections based on final-week preseason snap counts, including Ja'Kobi Lane locking down the Ravens' third receiver role, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Kyle Pitts facing reduced 12-personnel usage, Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2 and Emmett Johnson as the Chiefs' backup running back.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Cole PaytonHit · 100Kerr ranks the Eagles' 2025 draft picks by cut risk, predicting seventh-rounders Keyshawn James-Newby and Cole Wisniewski land on the practice squad, while Cole Payton, Uar Bernard, Makai Lemon, Eli Stowers and Markel Bell make the 53. He also says Lemon starts Week 1 and Bell is the right tackle of the future.