# Ralph Ventre: Ventre predicts four Bills backups — safety Damar Hamlin, inside linebacker Joe Andreessen, outside linebacker Javon Solomon and running back Ty Johnson — will survive the cutdown to 53 and make the roster. **Claimed:** Aug 27, 2026 **Pundit:** Ralph Ventre — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/ralph-ventre **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/bills/onsi/preseason-four-rumored-buffalo-bills-cut-candidates-who-are-likely-locked-into-roster-spots 6 checkable claims — 4 roster spot calls and 2 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 4 of 6 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls. Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the rest of the room. > These four Bills' backups appear safe come cutdown day *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Damar Hamlin to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Damar Hamlin, Buffalo Bills - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Javon Solomon to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Javon Solomon, Buffalo Bills - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Joe Andreessen to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Joe Andreessen, Buffalo Bills - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Ty Johnson to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Ty Johnson, Buffalo Bills - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Damar Hamlin to be 4th on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Damar Hamlin, Buffalo Bills - Verdict: not settled yet - **Joe Andreessen to be 4th on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Joe Andreessen, Buffalo Bills - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Damar Hamlin — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/damar-hamlin - Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bills - Javon Solomon — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/javon-solomon - Joe Andreessen — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/joe-andreessen - Ty Johnson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ty-johnson ## What others said about the same people - Pete Prisco on Buffalo Bills: Prisco picked the Bills to win 21-14 at Minnesota. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/baf85732-a389-4d56-8efe-5ce1e77fb8ae (scored 76.19) - John Breech on Buffalo Bills: Breech picked the Bills to beat the Vikings on Monday night by a score of 24-17. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4d22cd22-c9e2-4e03-ac32-129a116a34d0 (scored 76.19) - Jordan Dajani on Buffalo Bills: Dajani picked the Bills to edge the Vikings 24-23. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/28009098-d828-4465-9c7f-f92dac661f0a (scored 61.9) - Jared Dubin on Buffalo Bills: Dubin picked Buffalo to win a low-scoring Monday night game in Minnesota, 20-14. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4535f610-1df1-45e9-a603-fae7ef72893f (scored 73.81) - Tyler Sullivan on Buffalo Bills: Sullivan picked the Bills to beat the Vikings 24-17. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/bd29eda0-d993-4b00-af09-edb0051a4f4b (scored 76.19) - Trevor Ripley on Buffalo Bills: Ripley picks the Bills to beat the Vikings in their Week 9 Monday night matchup, predicting a 27-20 Buffalo win, and expects Carson Wentz to start for Minnesota with Kyler Murray sidelined. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d007779f-687d-4623-87c1-8a62c6d62b06 (scored 76.19) ## 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) - 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) - 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) --- 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=ralph-ventre