# Jack Markowski: Markowski expects Steelers WR Brandon Smith to miss the 53-man roster, be released at final cuts, and land on Pittsburgh's practice squad if healthy. **Claimed:** Aug 20, 2026 **Pundit:** Jack Markowski — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/jack-markowski **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/onsi/injury-crushing-pittsburgh-steelers-camp-darling-chances 2 checkable claims — 2 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. > Smith feels like a practice squad lock should he be relatively healthy *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Brandon Smith to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Brandon Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brandon Smith to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Brandon Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Brandon Smith — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/brandon-smith-6775 - Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/steelers ## What others said about the same people - Nick Shook on Pittsburgh Steelers: Shook said he would take the Steelers and Jaguars to win outright on the road, still expects the Chargers to beat the Raiders, and thinks Baltimore's run game will turn the Saints game into a double-digit Ravens win. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b377b42a-7d78-4210-af2a-f8d1088561b2 (scored 0) - John Middlekauff on Pittsburgh Steelers: Middlekauff declares the Bills will win the AFC East over the Patriots, picks the Steelers, Eagles and 49ers in Week 2 matchups, pegs win totals for the Saints, Texans and Buccaneers, has the Cowboys winning the NFC East, expects Nico Collins to miss the Bengals-Texans game, and says Derrick Henry will climb to a top-five all-time rusher. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/69166a3f-c1a7-42c7-a6f5-c0940c616462 (scored 0) - Colin Cowherd on Pittsburgh Steelers: The co-host (identified only as "Mitchell") gave his own Week 2 picks: Seattle, the Niners in dominant fashion, his Lions over Buffalo, Cincinnati 31-27 at Houston, Chicago, Pittsburgh 24-21 as a road upset, Jacksonville by at least a touchdown, Dallas 26-22, and Kansas City handily. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5e7a2965-bd9c-4c78-81b8-cb9ff18f6520 (scored 16.67) - Jason McIntyre on Baker Mayfield: 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/3fa10b83-c7a3-489f-a011-76f2eb991e81 (scored 0) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Makai Lemon: Making a third of the mock's picks, he gave Reuben Bain to Arizona at 3, Francis Mauinoa to Cleveland at 6, Jeremiah Love to Kansas City at 9, Mansoor Delane to Dallas at 12, Cassius Howell to Tampa Bay at 15, Avieon Terrell to Minnesota at 18, Makai Lemon to Pittsburgh at 21, KC Concepcion to Cleveland at 24, Kadyn Proctor to San Francisco at 27 and TJ Parker to New England at 30. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a61a436c-f178-40ce-aedd-fa92cbc80c82 (scored 95.76) - Jason McIntyre on Aaron Rodgers: McIntyre liked Cowherd's card, flagged the Jets and Chargers as potential upsets/strong teams, said the Chargers could reach the AFC Championship game, and declared Aaron Rodgers will miss the playoffs this year and retire in the offseason. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/fc0c43b5-a4a3-4dc1-829b-f07a813854f2 (scored 100) ## More roster spot calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Jason La Canfora on Tyler Loop: La Canfora argues the Ravens have unresolved problems at left tackle, downfield receiver, center and kicker, and says that despite Tyler Loop's home struggles no kicker change will be made this week given the trip to Brazil and Jake Moody no longer being on the practice squad. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/435cae49-559f-4914-972b-73404a1bd8ef (scored 0) - Trevor Ripley on Dillon Bell: Ripley expects Max Brosmer to return to the Vikings on the practice squad after being waived, and thinks Dillon Bell may draw waiver interest but is also a practice squad candidate for Minnesota. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/529718b4-3310-4bc4-949a-09c9600f3c48 (scored 0) - Randy Gurzi on Justin Barron: Gurzi predicts the Cowboys' 17-man practice squad, naming each player he expects Dallas to sign, including a surprise addition of released Giants tackle Evan Neal. He also predicts Jaydon Blue will be claimed off waivers by another team and that Sam Williams will land elsewhere. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a37588ef-f76e-4f06-a951-a85a563271d5 (scored 0) - John Shipley on Jalen McLeod: 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c0a52b7c-63b2-4e18-b7da-9342dbbc111f (scored 0) - Bucky Brooks on Josh Johnson: Brooks predicted J.J. McCarthy won't be on the Vikings' roster (traded or released), said Kyler Murray wins the Vikings' QB competition, made a series of 2025 award picks, made 2026 Heisman/draft projections including Arch Manning as the front-runner for the No. 1 overall pick, and said none of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow win a championship this season. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/10c3797b-f9e0-41ca-a2a3-5d765a242a79 (scored 0) - Jeff Kerr on Maximus Pulley: Kerr ranks the Eagles' eight undrafted free agents by their chances of making the initial 53-man roster, with Kapena Gushiken the most likely and predicts at least one UDFA makes the 53. He also forecasts practice squad spots for Zion Wilson, Deontae Lawson and Maximus Pulley, and a release for long snapper Rocco Underwood. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6ec1d507-c7b6-4873-a0a2-76817706e297 (scored 0) --- 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=jack-markowski