Parker HurleyAug 24, 2026
Hurley projects the San Francisco 49ers' 17-man practice squad, naming specific players at each position they expect to land on it (with a few either/or spots).
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Parker Hurley said
Ogbo Okoronkwo is a great PS option.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- 49ers Practice Squad Projection Ahead of Roster Cuts
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 24
- GradedSep 25
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster Spot Calls | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 |
How each call scored
14 checkable claims — 14 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
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.
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.
Roster Spot Calls2 misses · 12 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
James Thompson to land on the practice squad
“Practice Squad Projection ... James Thompson”
3 weeks on a 530Miss0 − 100 naive = −100 × 2 difficulty = −200 skill
Think this is wrong?How 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 land on the practice squad
“Ogbo Okoronkwo is a great PS option.”
3 weeks on a 530Miss0 − 100 naive = −100 × 2 difficulty = −200 skill
Think this is wrong?How 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
Hayden Rucci to make the roster
“Hayden Rucci or Brayden Willis are locks if they do not make the 53-man roster.”
—WaitingNot 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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jakob Robinson to land on the practice squad
“Jakob Robinson is a great PS option.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Will Pauling to make the roster
“Will Pauling appears to be ahead of Wesley Grimes as the top UDFA on the roster.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Adrian Martinez to land on the practice squad
“Unless they find a better option, Martinez will be their PS candidate.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Isaac Alarcon to make the roster
“Isaac Alarcon makes it as a 17th player due to an international exemption.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Sincere McCormick to land on the practice squad
“Sincere McCormick has been the best running back among all of their depth options.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Bryson Eason to land on the practice squad
“Practice Squad Projection ... Bryson Eason”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jalen Stroman to land on the practice squad
“Rookie UDFA Jalen Stroman seems like the smart choice over veteran Ashtyn Davis.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Darrell Luter Jr. to land on the practice squad
“As long as Darell Luter does not get calls from other teams, he should be a PS player.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Nick Zakelj to land on the practice squad
“Long-standing practice squad candidate Nick Zakelj is in the mix at guard.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brandon Parker to land on the practice squad
“So, this spot should go to Brandon Parker, who has run with the second team in the preseason.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
James Thompson, San Francisco 49ers, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Hayden Rucci, Khalil Dinkins, Jakob Robinson, Will Pauling, Adrian Martinez, Isaac Alarcon, Sincere McCormick, Bryson Eason, Jalen Stroman, Darrell Luter Jr., Nick Zakelj, Brandon Parker
Others on the same people
AJ Hawk · Game Outcome Picks · San Francisco 49ers · Hit 100
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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.Nate Tice · Game Outcome Picks · San Francisco 49ers · Hit 100
Tice picked the Patriots to beat the Packers and also took the Bears, Bills, 49ers and Broncos in their Week 9 matchups.
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.Christian Booher · Roster Spot Calls · Anthony Lucas · Miss 0
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.