# Donnie Druin: Druin reads Arizona's decision not to make any practice squad elevations as a sign that injured defenders Roy Lopez and Max Melton will play in Week 3 at San Francisco, and expects cornerback Garrett Williams to make his season debut in that game after being cleared off the injury report. **Claimed:** Sep 26, 2026 **Pundit:** Donnie Druin — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/donnie-druin **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/cardinals/onsi/arizona-cardinals-silence-speaks-volumes-ahead-san-francisco-49ers-matchup 3 checkable claims — 3 availability calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. > This is the second straight week Arizona's opted not to make any elevations, which is a good sign for both Lopez and Melton's status ahead of tomorrow's 1:05 PM PST kickoff. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **The Arizona Cardinals didn't make any practice squad elevations on Saturday ahead of their Week 3 test against the San Francisco 49ers, signaling some confidence in a pair of injured players suiting up at Levi's Stadium on Sunday... which is a good sign for both Lopez and Melton's status** - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Roy Lopez, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **This is the second straight week Arizona's opted not to make any elevations, which is a good sign for both Lopez and Melton's status ahead of tomorrow's 1:05 PM PST kickoff. (Week 3 vs. San Francisco 49ers)** - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Max Melton, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **The Cardinals are set to gain back Garrett Williams after the starting cornerback was cleared off this week's injury report, which sets him up for his 2026 debut. (Week 3 at San Francisco)** - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Garrett Williams, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Roy Lopez — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/roy-lopez - Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cardinals - Max Melton — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/max-melton - Garrett Williams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/garrett-williams ## What others said about the same people - Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: PFF's preseason usage recap makes a number of depth-chart and roster projections, including nine rookie receivers slotting as top-three options on their teams, sleeper tight end usage, and specific depth-chart placements for Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens players. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8f52d1f8-91ed-459c-99a7-30c2d3fb38e0 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a series of depth-chart, roster and usage projections based on final-week preseason snap counts, including Ja'Kobi Lane locking down the Ravens' third receiver role, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Kyle Pitts facing reduced 12-personnel usage, Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2 and Emmett Johnson as the Chiefs' backup running back. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/265cbdba-b0e0-4f80-9665-a4ca5aaec53e (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Bam Knight: PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a large number of depth-chart, role and fantasy-value calls across the league, including Chig Okonkwo as a top sleeper tight end, Tre Tucker as the Raiders' top receiver, and various backfield hierarchies. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/760054fd-7815-4b86-a9e3-bc9bdb0a730b (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Reggie Virgil: PFF's preseason recap projects Xavier Legette as the clear No. 3 receiver in Carolina after Chris Brazzell II's season-ending injury, doubts Jimmy Horn Jr. makes the 53-man roster, expects Ja'Tavion Sanders' role to shrink (with Mitchell Evans ahead of him), and sees Bam Knight as a candidate for Arizona's RB3 job. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/04a27c8a-6177-4389-9287-2279e87a6c4a (scored 100) - Greg Jennings on Arizona Cardinals: Jennings put the Cardinals up as his upset alert over Seattle, backed the Texans over Cincinnati and the Bears over Minnesota with chips, put two chips on Denver beating Jacksonville, and wrote a headline of the Packers beating the Jets; he also called the Bengals a playoff team and the Chiefs winners over Indianapolis. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/420d3e29-6224-43a2-8d68-b15c864838cd (scored 0) ## More availability calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Ralph Ventre on Christian Benford: Ventre 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/94b844fe-bb22-4517-81f5-6263eb0213f1 (not settled) - Fox Sports on Jayden Daniels: With surgery ruled out, Washington's outlet speculates Jayden Daniels avoids injured reserve and, if he isn't back for the Week 4 game in London, returns either in Week 5 against the Giants or Week 6 against the 49ers. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/38c42e1c-1990-46fb-a145-d6cf5a1d8c33 (not settled) - Ian Rapoport on J.J. McCarthy: On the JJ McCarthy trade he expects Jameis Winston to keep starting for the Giants while McCarthy learns, with McCarthy ready to go around midseason weeks six through eight; he also expects Tyson Bagent to start for the Bears next week with Caleb Williams out. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b34b40aa-92b6-4ca8-95a0-4c25741e3d19 (not settled) - Jordan Dajani on Baker Mayfield: Dajani writes that, based on the injury timeline, Baker Mayfield should be available to return for Tampa Bay's Oct. 25 game against the Carolina Panthers. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e3ea298b-362e-42b2-918b-d07d0e69ae41 (not settled) - Evan Tarracciano on Garrett Wilson: In his Week 3 studs and duds recap, Tarracciano says Drake London becomes a mid-tier WR1 now that Michael Penix Jr. is back, maintains Chase Brown should still be ranked as an RB1 despite a slow start, and expects Garrett Wilson to be fine after a concussion evaluation and play in Week 4. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/88e87735-d91e-4436-8793-f2fd9929dd1c (not settled) - Kelly Kirby on Breece Hall: Kirby suggested Breece Hall's leg injury casts doubt on whether he will be available for the Jets in Week 4, making Braelon Allen a priority pickup. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5467ba30-85be-438a-8fe0-ce12f4b7ee66 (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=donnie-druin