# Adam Schefter: Schefter expected Aaron Donald to play Monday night for the Rams while Puka Nacua trends toward sitting out, said Michael Penix should be back Thursday for Atlanta, thought Brock Bowers would return this week for the Raiders, and expected Kyler Murray to clear concussion protocol and reclaim the Vikings' starting job. **Claimed:** Sep 21, 2026 **Pundit:** Adam Schefter — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/adam-schefter **Outlet:** The Pat McAfee Show (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/the-pat-mcafee-show-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ESP5742247415.mp3 6 checkable claims — 5 availability calls and 1 depth chart call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room. > Well, I I think he's gonna play. That's the plan. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - “I think they expect that he's in a clear protocol this week if there are no setbacks and that he would be able to be back on the field next week.” - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet - “it certainly sounds like, Puka's trending towards not playing tonight against the Giants” - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - “I would be surprised if Bowers weren't back on the field this week for the Raiders” - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - “I I think that they're gonna try to get Peneks back on the field here Thursday night at Green Bay... I would expect that at least one of those guys will be back on Thursday night” - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: not settled yet - “Aaron Donald, is he officially playing?... Well, I I think he's gonna play. That's the plan. (Monday night vs. the Giants)” - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Kyler Murray — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kyler-murray - Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/vikings - Puka Nacua — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/puka-nacua - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams - Brock Bowers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brock-bowers - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/raiders - Michael Penix Jr. — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/michael-penix-jr - Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/falcons - Aaron Donald — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/aaron-donald ## What others said about the same people - 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) - Logan Lazarczyk on Kirk Cousins: Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d0fd408a-7dcd-4e50-ac62-6b4510a8a800 (scored 100) - Logan Lazarczyk on Kirk Cousins: Lazarczyk expects the Raiders to be sellers before the trade deadline, suggesting Kirk Cousins could be dealt back to the Vikings and that benched interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson is a prime candidate to be traded somewhere. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fda03952-2ea6-4919-8114-0ebb127478d1 (scored 100) - 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) - Alex Curry on Kirk Cousins: Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be taken No. 1 overall by the Raiders and to be thrown into the starting lineup immediately, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta within weeks. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2c6097f9-30ad-42dc-863f-e507225b7edc (scored 100) - Alex Curry on Kirk Cousins: Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be the No. 1 overall pick and land with the Raiders, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1c269ea1-7c35-4039-827d-ec1130aa0e04 (scored 100) ## More availability calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Parker Hurley on Deebo Samuel Sr.: Hurley argued the 49ers' real deadline need was a pass-catching tight end rather than a receiver, and stated that Deebo Samuel will be available to play this week for San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ae5291fa-ecc5-4950-9235-fba7a9bbbcd1 (not settled) - Ethan Hurwitz on TreVeyon Henderson: Hurwitz laid out that Henderson's IR placement rules the running back out through Week 14, with Week 15 against the Chiefs the earliest possible return, and suggested the season may already be finished given the Patriots' limited return-to-play designations. Hurwitz also projected Rhamondre Stevenson continuing as the lead back with Corey Kiner and Lan Larison taking on larger offensive roles. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/90dc59fd-f9cd-4003-8198-8469fd45d62e (not settled) - Bill Huber on Lukas Van Ness: Huber reasoned from the fact that neither Arron Mosby nor Nyjalik Kelly was elevated that edge rusher Lukas Van Ness, listed as questionable with a back injury, would be healthy enough to play in Sunday's game against the Vikings. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4a68970a-3ae8-46c4-a395-298520a3614b (not settled) - Jose Sanchez on Keenan Allen: Sanchez argued the 49ers should have rested newly acquired receiver Keenan Allen against Dallas since Allen will go the whole 2026 season without a bye, but expects Allen to suit up and play every game starting with Sunday's game versus the Cowboys. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fb08e172-6694-4e55-a092-2b59e28fa9a2 (not settled) - Alain Poupart on Chris Bell: Poupart expects wide receiver Chris Bell to be inactive for the Week 10 game at Indianapolis because of a knee injury, with Jalen Reagor elevated in place of Bell. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cec7fbf1-6192-474f-9d80-f1efb9574ce8 (not settled) - Jose Sanchez on Keenan Allen: Sanchez expects Keenan Allen to play in the 49ers' game against Dallas in a limited role on passing downs, and argues an injury is more likely than not given age and injury history, meaning Allen will end up being more of the same at receiver for San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ee391462-23a7-487d-ae3f-667d892af236 (not settled) --- 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=adam-schefter