Blaine GrisakAug 16, 2026
Reviewing the Rams' preseason win, Grisak predicted roster outcomes: Dean Connors likely lands on the practice squad rather than the 53, Xavier Smith's roster chances look poor, Nick Andersen is a strong practice squad candidate, and Mark Redman is likely a practice squad candidate.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Blaine Grisak said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromIt's hard to see Connors making the final roster, but he showed why he was one of the better undrafted free agents that the Rams signed.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- 4 Winners and 3 Losers From Rams’ Preseason Win Over Chiefs
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 15
- GradedSep 27
- 1Dean Connors to land on the practice squad“He could push Jarquez Hunter, but it's more likely that he ends up on the practice squad.”
- 2Nick Andersen to land on the practice squad“Andersen will be a strong practice squad candidate.”
- 3Mark Redman to land on the practice squad“Additionally, Redman is likely a practice squad candidate, but will be good depth to have there.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dean Connors to land on the practice squad1 | Roster Spot Calls | 1 week on a 53 | 0 | 100 | −200 | |
| Nick Andersen to land on the practice squad2 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Mark Redman to land on the practice squad3 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 1 miss · 2 waiting | 0 | 100 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naiveworse than naive3 checkable claims — 3 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
1Roster Spot CallsDean ConnorsLos Angeles Rams
Dean Connors to land on the practice squad
What happened1 week on a 530Miss · naive 1000this call−100a naive guess=−100worse than naive×2difficulty=−200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- LAR
- skill:
- −200
- player:
- Dean Connors
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he lands on the practice squad
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 3
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 2
2Roster Spot CallsNick AndersenLos Angeles Rams
Nick Andersen to land on the practice squad
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Roster Spot CallsMark RedmanLos Angeles Rams
Mark Redman to land on the practice squad
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Cowherd predicts Matt Stafford stays with the Rams rather than moving on, and says Travis Hunter may underachieve because they're being asked to play both ways — Cowherd doubts they're a No. 1 receiver and would slot them as a No. 2 receiver while being a No. 1 corner.Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Cowherd believes Matt Stafford's public negotiation posturing means he ultimately stays in Los Angeles, and he flags Travis Hunter as a high draft pick who could underachieve because trying to play both cornerback and receiver full-time will hurt him.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Los Angeles Rams · Hit 93
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.Connor Rogers · Game Outcome Picks · Los Angeles Rams · Hit 100
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.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
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.Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
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.Chad Jensen · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Turner · Miss 0
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.Charean Williams · Roster Spot Calls · Odell Beckham Jr. · Miss 0
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.