# Tom Jensen: Jensen projects the 49ers' final 53-man roster ahead of the August 30 cutdown, naming a long list of players he expects to be released outright, another group he expects to be cut and return on the practice squad ("boomerang cuts"), and three borderline players (Jordan James, Jacob Cowing, James Thompson Jr.) he believes San Francisco will keep. **Claimed:** Aug 21, 2026 **Pundit:** Tom Jensen — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/tom-jensen **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/onsi/49ers-shift-focus-cutdown-day-after-walloping-chargers-la 41 checkable claims — 41 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 42 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 10 of 41 have settled so far, averaging 30 out of 100, against 80 for a naive guess at the same calls. > My thinking is if he was cut he would be picked up, so the 49ers choose to keep him. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Sebastian Valdez to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Sebastian Valdez, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Ashtyn Davis to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Ashtyn Davis, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jordan James to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jordan James, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Siran Neal to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Siran Neal, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **James Thompson to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: James Thompson, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Luke Gifford to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Luke Gifford, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Brayden Willis to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Brayden Willis, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Luke Farrell to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Luke Farrell, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jacob Cowing to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jacob Cowing, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **KhaDarel Hodge to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: KhaDarel Hodge, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Hayden Rucci to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Hayden Rucci, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jakob Robinson to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jakob Robinson, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Titus Leo to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Titus Leo, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Eli Apple to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Eli Apple, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Larry Worth to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Larry Worth, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Victor Dimukeje to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Victor Dimukeje, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Drake Nugent to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Drake Nugent, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Josiah Deguara to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Josiah Deguara, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Quinton Bell to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Quinton Bell, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Malik Turner to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Malik Turner, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Zamir White to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Zamir White, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Patrick McMorris to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Patrick McMorris, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Nick Zakelj to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Nick Zakelj, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jalen Graham to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jalen Graham, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Bryson Eason to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Bryson Eason, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Sincere McCormick to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Sincere McCormick, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Will Pauling to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Will Pauling, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Darrell Luter Jr. to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Darrell Luter Jr., San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Adrian Martinez to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Adrian Martinez, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jalen Stroman to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jalen Stroman, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Christian Kirk to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Christian Kirk, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Alex Barrett to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Alex Barrett, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Austen Pleasants to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Austen Pleasants, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Evan Anderson to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Evan Anderson, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Doug Kramer to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Doug Kramer, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brandon Parker to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Brandon Parker, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Nate Hobbs to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Nate Hobbs, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Robert Jones to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Robert Jones, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Khalil Herbert to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Khalil Herbert, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Wesley Grimes to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Wesley Grimes, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Trenton Irwin to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Trenton Irwin, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Sebastian Valdez — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/sebastian-valdez - San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/49ers - Ashtyn Davis — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ashtyn-davis - Jordan James — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jordan-james - Siran Neal — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/siran-neal - James Thompson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/james-thompson - Luke Gifford — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/luke-gifford - Brayden Willis — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brayden-willis - Luke Farrell — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/luke-farrell - Jacob Cowing — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jacob-cowing - KhaDarel Hodge — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/khadarel-hodge - Hayden Rucci — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/hayden-rucci - Jakob Robinson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jakob-robinson - Titus Leo — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/titus-leo - Eli Apple — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/eli-apple - Larry Worth — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/larry-worth - Victor Dimukeje — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/victor-dimukeje - Drake Nugent — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/drake-nugent - Josiah Deguara — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/josiah-deguara - Quinton Bell — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/quinton-bell - Malik Turner — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/malik-turner - Zamir White — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/zamir-white - Patrick McMorris — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/patrick-mcmorris - Nick Zakelj — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/nick-zakelj - Jalen Graham — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jalen-graham - Bryson Eason — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bryson-eason - Sincere McCormick — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/sincere-mccormick - Will Pauling — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/will-pauling - Darrell Luter Jr. — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/darrell-luter-jr - Adrian Martinez — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/adrian-martinez - Jalen Stroman — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jalen-stroman - Christian Kirk — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/christian-kirk - Alex Barrett — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/alex-barrett - Austen Pleasants — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/austen-pleasants - Evan Anderson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/evan-anderson - Doug Kramer — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/doug-kramer - Brandon Parker — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brandon-parker - Nate Hobbs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/nate-hobbs - Robert Jones — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/robert-jones - Khalil Herbert — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/khalil-herbert - Wesley Grimes — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/wesley-grimes - Trenton Irwin — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/trenton-irwin ## What others said about the same people - Chris Simms on San Francisco 49ers: Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/662b7ba3-1bf6-4ad0-9f93-9f2ab83143fd (scored 88.1) - Richie Bradshaw on San Francisco 49ers: Bradshaw picks the 49ers to beat the Cardinals in their Week 3 matchup, predicting a final score of 27-14 in San Francisco's favor. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/56e0c2a3-ddff-46f8-8359-2a546546a29c (scored 83.33) - Richard Sherman on San Francisco 49ers: Sherman picked winners and several exact scores across the Week 3 slate, favoring Seattle, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Detroit, Green Bay, Carolina, New Orleans, Baltimore, the Rams, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Kansas City, Minnesota, the Giants, Jacksonville and Houston, and named Kenneth Walker his MVP. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c2102f61-711d-4041-af08-065e95ccaf03 (scored 83.33) - Colin Cowherd on San Francisco 49ers: The co-host (identified only as "Mitchell") made his own Week 3 picks, including blowout wins for Seattle and San Francisco, Cincinnati 27-17, Detroit 37-13, Denver 24-21 over the Rams, and predicted Jonah Coleman takes over the Broncos' running back role. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4ccbceaa-54ca-4a2e-ad90-006f1ded0ad2 (scored 100) - Tyler Sullivan on San Francisco 49ers: Sullivan projects final scores for every Week 3 game, including a Bills blowout of the reeling Chargers, a Chiefs rout in Miami, a Seahawks win over a Mariota-led Washington, and the Saints beating the Raiders in their home opener. He also expects Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart all to be sidelined in Week 3, with Marcus Mariota starting for Washington. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e4b11b44-d359-4027-a72c-87833f5ff6e3 (scored 90.48) - Pete Prisco on San Francisco 49ers: Prisco picks every Week 3 game with exact scores, highlighting upsets by Tampa Bay over Minnesota and Cleveland over Carolina, and expects the Giants to rally behind Jameis Winston. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3eb02dfa-79dd-43a1-87d8-db7e5140af6c (scored 83.33) ## More roster spot calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Jeff Kerr on Zach Ertz: Kerr expects Zach Ertz to be elevated from the practice squad and play in the Eagles' Week 3 Monday night game against the Bears, and to serve as Philadelphia's clear TE1 with Dallas Goedert out. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7e4fa8de-f88c-4d45-b568-49992a356539 (scored 0) - Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: 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.co/opinions/6ec1d507-c7b6-4873-a0a2-76817706e297 (scored 100) - Carter Bahns on Jeshaun Jones: A CBS Sports piece expects suspended Vikings receiver Jeshaun Jones to lose his roster battle and be cut by the Aug. 30 deadline, given Minnesota's established receiver group. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/98c7155f-d05c-43cb-8c03-4f50d43211a8 (scored 0) - Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr's third Eagles 53-man roster projection names the players he expects to make the team at each position, with Cole Payton, Elijah Moore, Johnny Wilson, Gabe Hall and Rocco Underwood left off; he also predicts Underwood is exposed to waivers and returns to the practice squad, Deontae Lawson lands on the practice squad, and Eli Stowers is the TE3. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2120c4ea-7113-4ebf-9ebc-0d4a62d83c3a (scored 100) - Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr's updated 53-man roster projection for the Eagles after eight training camp practices, naming which players make the team at each position plus depth-chart placements like Wicks as WR2, Mundt as TE2, Kendall as third guard, Bell as third tackle, and Epps/Carter battling to start at safety. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/328a952b-d6b4-4065-aac9-0029421fb50f (scored 100) - Ralph Ventre on Christian Benford: Ventre expects Christian Benford's toe injury to sideline him for at least the Week 4 game against New England, and believes the Bills will have to add a cornerback to the 53-man roster this week — likely by moving Benford to injured reserve — with practice squad rookie Kani Walker the most likely player elevated. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/94b844fe-bb22-4517-81f5-6263eb0213f1 (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.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.co/corrections?pundit=tom-jensen