Ethan Hurwitz· Aug 22, 2026
Previewing the Patriots' preseason game, Hurwitz assesses veterans fighting for 53-man roster spots, predicting JaMycal Hasty is most likely headed to the practice squad at best, and that Mike Brown — once seen as a near-lock — could now be a roster casualty behind Dell Pettus and John Saunders Jr.
“In all liklihood, he's destined for the practice squad, if that.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
3 checkable claims — 2 roster spot calls and 1 depth chart call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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Who this take is about
3 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.
JaMycal Hasty to make the roster
“With a crowded room, Hasty will need a strong showing against Philadelphia and the Cleveland Browns to potentially earn a spot. In all liklihood, he's destined for the practice squad, if that.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- NE
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- 9c4521df-54bc-401b-b8f1-ba075ff45b81
- 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
Charles Woods to be 4th on the depth chart
“the Patriots claimed Charles Woods off of waivers -- who's now turned into the team's fourth cornerback”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsMike BrownNew England PatriotsAug 22, 2026
Mike Brown to make the roster
“Since camp opened up, both Dell Pettus and John Saunders Jr. have impressed, potentially making Brown (who played deep into the fourth quarter against Indianapolis) a roster casualty.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Julian EdelmanScore Predictions · New England PatriotsClose · 48Edelman picked the Patriots to win the season opener in Seattle, saying New England's offseason additions and the bad taste from the previous season would carry them, and gave a final score of 28-24.
- Connor "Boston Connor" CampbellGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsMiss · 0Boston Connor took the Patriots in the season opener against Seattle, framing it as a redemption spot after the Super Bowl loss.
- Darius ButlerGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsMiss · 0Butler initially picked Seattle but switched to the Patriots before the show ended; he also called the Colts a likely No. 1 seed, said Jacksonville sneaks into the playoffs, and expects Sam Darnold to land a new contract.
- Jason McIntyreGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsMiss · 0McIntyre takes the Patriots on the moneyline in the season opener at Seattle, picks the Jaguars over the Browns, and says Baker Mayfield's new deal keeps Tampa a perennial playoff team.
- Mike FlorioScore Predictions · New England PatriotsClose · 50Florio gives score predictions for every Week 1 game of the 2026 NFL season, including an opening-night upset by the Patriots in Seattle and narrow home wins for the Giants and Chiefs.
- Conor OrrGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsMiss · 0Orr's Week 1 straight-up picks, including several upsets (Patriots, Buccaneers, Browns, Dolphins, Commanders, Broncos).
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- John ShipleyRoster Spot Calls · Jack KiserMiss · 0Shipley 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 · 0Rourke 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 · 0Benninger 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 · 100Morris 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 · 100After 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 · 100Shook 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.