# Jack Markowski: Markowski argues the Steelers should move on from Tyreek Hill given his injury and possible NFL discipline, and names promoting practice-squad receiver Brandon Smith to the 53-man roster as the most obvious way Pittsburgh addresses its receiver need.

**Claimed:** Oct 14, 2026
**Pundit:** Jack Markowski — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jack-markowski
**Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/onsi/tyreek-hill-longer-fits-pittsburgh-steelers-plans

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

The call scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.

> The most obvious solution for the Steelers is to sign Brandon Smith, a training camp standout, to the 53-man roster

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Brandon Smith to land on the practice squad**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Brandon Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess

## Who this take is about

- Brandon Smith — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brandon-smith-6775
- Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/steelers

## What others said about the same people

- Noah Strackbein on Brandon Smith: After the Steelers' win over the Colts, Strackbein noted that with Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek hurt, Pittsburgh is down to three healthy receivers and that practice squad receiver Brandon Smith is expected to be elevated to the active roster. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dc233acb-ca14-4442-b09f-8ce4cd7c49e0 (scored 0)
- Bryan DeArdo on Pittsburgh Steelers: DeArdo picks the Steelers to beat the Colts 24-20 at home, expecting a big rushing game from Jaylen Warren against a weak Indianapolis run defense, and notes Michael Pittman will miss several weeks with Roman Wilson and Germie Bernard taking on bigger roles. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7cdf5970-a102-4caf-993e-05f2a9de3298 (scored 80.95)
- Jeremy Pargo on Pittsburgh Steelers: Bergman picked winners and exact scores for every Week 5 game, siding with Jacksonville in London, the Saints over the unbeaten Vikings, the Jets over Cleveland and the Rams over Buffalo. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/eb5cd6ae-f2ad-49c8-909d-3ad73d196e72 (scored 76.19)
- Dan Parr on Pittsburgh Steelers: Parr picked every Week 5 game with scores, leaning on Chicago's ground game at Lambeau, Seattle's defense against the unbeaten 49ers, and the Rams handling Buffalo on Monday night. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0c10b52a-0a51-43ee-a55a-78a478f3c2b3 (scored 78.57)
- Gennaro Filice on Pittsburgh Steelers: Filice picked every Week 5 game with scores, backing Cincinnati in a closer-than-expected game at Miami, the Patriots in a low-scoring home win, Houston to finally get off the schneid in Tennessee, and upsets by the Saints, Jets, Packers and Bills. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7cc33db3-88e5-4811-8121-94bed7928d3a (scored 85.71)
- Pamela Maldonado on Pittsburgh Steelers: Maldonado gave final score picks for every Week 5 game, including the Packers over the Bears, the Raiders winning in New England, the Saints upsetting the Vikings and the Giants beating the Commanders. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6e8dc1f8-b120-4451-8709-9f92b577ed95 (scored 88.1)

## More roster spot calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Joel Corry on Lane Johnson: Corry predicts the Eagles will keep Lane Johnson on the 53-man roster and delay processing his retirement until at least June 2 of next year for salary cap reasons, and that the $10.85 million option bonus payment due in December likely won't be paid. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5140d126-403d-4926-8369-9551ce7f24f1 (scored 100)
- John Green on Phidarian Mathis: Green expects the Bills to place second-year defensive lineman T.J. Sanders on injured reserve while Phidarian Mathis returns from suspension to the active roster, and argues Sanders is already trending toward bust status relative to his No. 41 overall selection. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/26609082-1dfb-4294-854d-59dfee0c58aa (scored 100)
- Randy Gurzi on Trent Sherfield: Gurzi predicts the Buffalo Bills' final 53-man roster ahead of Week 1 against Houston, naming every player who makes it, who gets cut, and a few depth-chart outcomes (Damar Hamlin as backup safety, Alec Anderson as a new starter on the offensive line, Shane Buechele back on the practice squad). — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/95db61d4-3514-4d17-aa02-ed56a31ecabf (scored 0)
- Joe Marino on Trent Sherfield: Joe Marino gives his final projection of the Buffalo Bills' initial 53-man roster after the preseason finale, naming who makes it, who gets cut, and who lands on injured reserve/PUP, along with several starting-job calls (Kyle Allen as QB2, TJ Sanders starting over Landon Jackson, Maxwell Hairston starting opposite Christian Benford, and Tommy Doman winning the punting job). — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/65f0752f-5147-4476-be34-4909b3c44bc8 (scored 100)
- Joe Marino on Trent Sherfield: Marino gives his pre-training-camp 53-man roster projection for the Buffalo Bills, naming who makes the roster at each position group, who gets cut or lands on the practice squad, and a few depth-chart calls (Josh Allen as starter, Tommy Doman winning the punting job). — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6619123c-e94e-4ca3-b5df-4bb9beaf7cfd (scored 100)
- Joe Marino on Trent Sherfield: Marino gives his first 2026 Buffalo Bills 53-man roster projection, naming which players make the roster at each position, who gets cut, and who wins the starting jobs along the offensive line and at punter. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c31330e8-0a8f-462a-af99-3e74b1b0acad (scored 100)

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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

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