# Tom Jensen: Jensen projects the 49ers' final 53-man roster ahead of the August 30 cutdown, naming a long list of players they expect to be released outright, another group they expect to be cut and return on the practice squad ("boomerang cuts"), and three borderline players (Jordan James, Jacob Cowing, James Thompson Jr.) they believe 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 call. It names 42 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 13 of 41 have settled so far, averaging 23.1 out of 100, against 84.6 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 - **Christian Kirk to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Christian Kirk, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jalen Graham to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jalen Graham, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Malik Turner to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Malik Turner, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Sebastian Valdez to land on the practice squad** - 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 land on the practice squad** - 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 be cut** - 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 be cut** - 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 be cut** - 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 land on the practice squad** - 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 land on the practice squad** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: KhaDarel Hodge, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Robert Jones to land on the practice squad** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Robert Jones, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Doug Kramer to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Doug Kramer, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Larry Worth to land on the practice squad** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Larry Worth, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jalen Stroman to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jalen Stroman, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Khalil Herbert to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Khalil Herbert, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Patrick McMorris to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Patrick McMorris, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Alex Barrett to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Alex Barrett, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Josiah Deguara to land on the practice squad** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Josiah Deguara, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Hayden Rucci to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Hayden Rucci, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jakob Robinson to land on the practice squad** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jakob Robinson, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Titus Leo to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Titus Leo, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Trenton Irwin to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Trenton Irwin, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Wesley Grimes to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Wesley Grimes, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Eli Apple to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Eli Apple, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Evan Anderson to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Evan Anderson, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Quinton Bell to land on the practice squad** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Quinton Bell, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Victor Dimukeje to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Victor Dimukeje, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Nate Hobbs to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Nate Hobbs, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Drake Nugent to land on the practice squad** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Drake Nugent, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Adrian Martinez to land on the practice squad** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Adrian Martinez, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Austen Pleasants to land on the practice squad** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Austen Pleasants, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Will Pauling to land on the practice squad** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Will Pauling, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Zamir White to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Zamir White, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Nick Zakelj to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Nick Zakelj, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Sincere McCormick to land on the practice squad** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Sincere McCormick, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Bryson Eason to land on the practice squad** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Bryson Eason, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Darrell Luter Jr. to land on the practice squad** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Darrell Luter Jr., San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brandon Parker to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Brandon Parker, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Christian Kirk — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/christian-kirk - San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/49ers - Jalen Graham — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jalen-graham - Malik Turner — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/malik-turner - Sebastian Valdez — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/sebastian-valdez - 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 - Robert Jones — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/robert-jones - Doug Kramer — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/doug-kramer - Larry Worth — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/larry-worth - Jalen Stroman — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jalen-stroman - Khalil Herbert — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/khalil-herbert - Patrick McMorris — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/patrick-mcmorris - Alex Barrett — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/alex-barrett - Josiah Deguara — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/josiah-deguara - 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 - Trenton Irwin — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/trenton-irwin - Wesley Grimes — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/wesley-grimes - Eli Apple — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/eli-apple - Evan Anderson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/evan-anderson - Quinton Bell — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/quinton-bell - Victor Dimukeje — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/victor-dimukeje - Nate Hobbs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/nate-hobbs - Drake Nugent — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/drake-nugent - Adrian Martinez — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/adrian-martinez - Austen Pleasants — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/austen-pleasants - Will Pauling — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/will-pauling - Zamir White — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/zamir-white - Nick Zakelj — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/nick-zakelj - Sincere McCormick — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/sincere-mccormick - Bryson Eason — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bryson-eason - Darrell Luter Jr. — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/darrell-luter-jr - Brandon Parker — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brandon-parker ## What others said about the same people - Parker Hurley on Khalid Kareem: Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5a729417-69ee-493a-9bec-d905fd1a7082 (scored 0) - Pete Prisco on San Francisco 49ers: Prisco gives score predictions for every Week 9 NFL game, picking the Bengals to rout the Falcons in Madrid, the Cowboys to rebound at Indianapolis, and the Jaguars to win in Baltimore without Lamar Jackson. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dc43909b-bc7f-47aa-b208-5cf7c95844bc (scored 83.33) - AJ Hawk on San Francisco 49ers: Hawk said the Chiefs would beat the Jets, the Seahawks would beat the Cardinals, and the 49ers would beat the Raiders, even while taking the points with the underdogs in each case. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d20e3b12-b0ca-45f8-a14c-925af9b754bb (scored 100) - Connor Rogers on San Francisco 49ers: Rogers picked straight-up winners in every Week 9 game, agreeing with Simms on all of them, and gave a 24-20 Bills score over the Vikings on Monday night. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/11646f69-18dd-4831-a7de-e4115ded875c (scored 100) - Chris Simms on San Francisco 49ers: Simms gave a predicted final score for every Week 9 game, picking the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Lions, Giants, Rams, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks, Texans, Bears and Bills, and also said they wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/17eb747a-90b1-472f-bb6d-e71c0c69133a (scored 92.86) - Big Cat on San Francisco 49ers: Big Cat picked the Bengals to beat the Falcons in Madrid, the 49ers to handle the Raiders, the Seahawks to bounce back against the Cardinals, and the Bears to beat the Buccaneers by a projected 26-23. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1780fe70-faa9-45f8-ac64-f6244b7d5144 (scored 100) ## More roster spot calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: Kelberman expects Sean Fresch Jr. to clear waivers and return to the Broncos' practice squad, sees Riley Moss back from concussion for the Week 11 game at Las Vegas, and projects newly acquired Daiyan Henley to begin as the third inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before likely moving into a starting role. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/978f775c-5611-4514-ad2f-b35a6eac0402 (scored 0) - Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: Kelberman writes that Riley Moss may sit out the preseason finale against Minnesota but should be available for the Week 1 opener at Kansas City; they also suggest undrafted corners Sean Fresch Jr. and Brent Austin are being evaluated for practice squad spots. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3c8c47b8-6041-4282-8d21-d21741d8f11b (scored 0) - Jason Harmon on Max Brosmer: Harmon expects the Vikings' quarterback room to stay intact while Kyler Murray is hurt, and predicts Max Brosmer will be released and re-signed to the practice squad since Minnesota won't carry four QBs. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fa393501-3f38-481e-8e75-48125587e911 (scored 0) - Chad Jensen on Jordan Turner: Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a84d2c6e-5554-46aa-95b1-620858d31e0f (scored 0) - Charean Williams on Odell Beckham Jr.: Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d4fd8cfb-3c75-4209-9e1a-d60e821f315b (scored 0) - Christian Booher on Anthony Lucas: Booher previews the Lions' Week 9 trip to Miami, predicting Derrick Barnes takes over as the green-dot linebacker in Jack Campbell's absence, Juice Scruggs starts at center, and boldly forecasting Detroit's first defensive touchdown of the season on an Aidan Hutchinson strip-sack recovered and returned by Barnes. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/228a7c0e-608b-4043-a8fa-eb3f8b2c4ce8 (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