Parker Hurley· Aug 24, 2026
Hurley projects the San Francisco 49ers' 17-man practice squad, naming specific players at each position he expects to land on it (with a few either/or spots).
“Ogbo Okoronkwo is a great PS option.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
14 checkable claims — 14 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 15 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
2 of 14 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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Who this take is about
14 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
James Thompson to make the roster
“Practice Squad Projection ... James Thompson”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- SF
- skill:
- -200
- player:
- James Thompson
- 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:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
Ogbo Okoronkwo to make the roster
“Ogbo Okoronkwo is a great PS option.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- SF
- skill:
- -200
- player:
- Ogbo Okoronkwo
- 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:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
Isaac Alarcon to make the roster
“Isaac Alarcon makes it as a 17th player due to an international exemption.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brandon Parker to make the roster
“So, this spot should go to Brandon Parker, who has run with the second team in the preseason.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsHayden RucciSan Francisco 49ersAug 24, 2026
Hayden Rucci to make the roster
“Hayden Rucci or Brayden Willis are locks if they do not make the 53-man roster.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jalen Stroman to make the roster
“Rookie UDFA Jalen Stroman seems like the smart choice over veteran Ashtyn Davis.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsBryson EasonSan Francisco 49ersAug 24, 2026
Bryson Eason to make the roster
“Practice Squad Projection ... Bryson Eason”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Khalil Dinkins to make the roster
“The question is whether Josiah Deguara or freshly signed Khalil Dinkins makes it as well.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jakob Robinson to make the roster
“Jakob Robinson is a great PS option.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Adrian Martinez to make the roster
“Unless they find a better option, Martinez will be their PS candidate.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsWill PaulingSan Francisco 49ersAug 24, 2026
Will Pauling to make the roster
“Will Pauling appears to be ahead of Wesley Grimes as the top UDFA on the roster.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsNick ZakeljSan Francisco 49ersAug 24, 2026
Nick Zakelj to make the roster
“Long-standing practice squad candidate Nick Zakelj is in the mix at guard.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Darrell Luter Jr. to make the roster
“As long as Darell Luter does not get calls from other teams, he should be a PS player.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Sincere McCormick to make the roster
“Sincere McCormick has been the best running back among all of their depth options.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · San Francisco 49ersHit · 88Simms 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.
- Richie BradshawScore Predictions · San Francisco 49ersHit · 83Bradshaw picks the 49ers to beat the Cardinals in their Week 3 matchup, predicting a final score of 27-14 in San Francisco's favor.
- Richard ShermanScore Predictions · San Francisco 49ersHit · 83Sherman 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.
- Colin CowherdGame Outcome Picks · San Francisco 49ersHit · 100The 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.
- Tyler SullivanScore Predictions · San Francisco 49ersHit · 90Sullivan 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.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · San Francisco 49ersHit · 83Prisco 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.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Zach ErtzMiss · 0Kerr 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.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Chance CampbellHit · 100Kerr 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.
- Carter BahnsRoster Spot Calls · Jeshaun JonesMiss · 0A 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.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Chance CampbellHit · 100Kerr'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.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Chance CampbellHit · 100Kerr'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.
- Ralph VentreRoster Spot Calls · Christian BenfordMiss · 0Ventre 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.