# Trevor Ripley: 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. **Claimed:** Sep 24, 2026 **Pundit:** Trevor Ripley — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/trevor-ripley **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/onsi/3-potential-roster-moves-vikings-forced-make-week-3-jay-ward-trade-01m37ahct39e 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. > Ford has been with the team for just over a week, but it's possible he gets some work already on Sunday. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Kyle Van Noy to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Kyle Van Noy, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Zemaiah Vaughn to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Zemaiah Vaughn, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jay Ward to move — “may be traded for a late Day 3 pick”** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Jay Ward - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jerome Ford to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jerome Ford, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Nick Samac to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Nick Samac, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Kyle Van Noy — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/kyle-van-noy - Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/vikings - Zemaiah Vaughn — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/zemaiah-vaughn - Jay Ward — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jay-ward - Jerome Ford — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jerome-ford - Nick Samac — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/nick-samac ## What others said about the same people - Fox Sports on J.J. McCarthy: FOX 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/dcd95051-2c24-4226-be5d-ff36732ce5dc (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Carson Wentz: An 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Carson Wentz: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/265cbdba-b0e0-4f80-9665-a4ca5aaec53e (scored 100) - Tom Jensen on T.J. Hockenson: NFL.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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/7ab5ced6-8d1e-4d59-a06b-9dc7d8125a83 (scored 0) - Jason Harmon on Elijah Williams: Harmon 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/01cb3f44-f9e6-4c8c-83a0-ded3af126b57 (scored 100) - Adam Carlson on Demond Claiborne: Carlson 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/84335e8d-3d29-405f-b657-e2405bc735a8 (scored 100) ## More roster spot calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8f52d1f8-91ed-459c-99a7-30c2d3fb38e0 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Ameer Abdullah: An 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100) - Noah Compton on Caden Curry: After 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/fa7eba23-4322-47d7-b21e-7adb82e6b325 (scored 100) - Patricia Traina on Paulson Adebo: Traina 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8bb1a183-b45b-44db-8a61-23bdd2238a6b (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/265cbdba-b0e0-4f80-9665-a4ca5aaec53e (scored 100) - Jeff Kerr on Cole Payton: Kerr 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/ae8f39f7-dab8-4908-a53e-e3401a7c8bee (scored 100) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=trevor-ripley