# Fox Sports: Reporting on Jack Strand's pick-six debut, the piece predicts their time under center will be brief because Michael Penix Jr. should be available to play in Atlanta's Thursday night game against Green Bay.

**Claimed:** Sep 20, 2026
**Pundit:** Fox Sports — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/fox-sports
**Outlet:** Fox Sports — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/fox-sports
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/jack-strand-joins-elite-company-falcons-after-first-career-pass-attempt

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

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

Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.

> Strand's stint under center will likely be short-lived.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- “While Tua Tagovailoa is sidelined by an oblique injury, 2024 No. 9 overall pick Michael Penix Jr. should be ready to go for Thursday night's matchup against Green Bay.”
  - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Michael Penix Jr. — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/michael-penix-jr
- Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/falcons

## What others said about the same people

- Alex Curry on Kirk Cousins: Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be taken No. 1 overall by the Raiders and to be thrown into the starting lineup immediately, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta within weeks. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2c6097f9-30ad-42dc-863f-e507225b7edc (scored 100)
- Alex Curry on Kirk Cousins: Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be the No. 1 overall pick and land with the Raiders, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1c269ea1-7c35-4039-827d-ec1130aa0e04 (scored 100)
- JP Acosta on Kirk Cousins: Acosta expects John Harbaugh's Giants to jump to roughly seven wins in year one, and forecast several offseason moves: Aaron Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh, Daniel Jones returning to the Colts, Kirk Cousins being released by Atlanta, and Brandon Aiyuk leaving San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/17ab1ec5-a2f1-41c6-a6df-a0e6d949351b (scored 100)
- Gregg Rosenthal on Kirk Cousins: Rosenthal gave their award ballot: Drake May atop their MVP list (though they expect Matthew Stafford to actually win), Myles Garrett for Defensive Player of the Year, Bijan Robinson for Offensive Player of the Year, Tetairoa McMillan for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Carson Schwesinger for Defensive Rookie of the Year, Mike Macdonald for Coach of the Year and Broncos O-line coach Zach Strief for Assistant Coach of the Year. They also expect Kirk Cousins to be cut by Atlanta. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d3a0da31-6e2f-4298-b5a5-b887333d3fd6 (scored 100)
- Parker Hurley on Jessie Bates: Hurley argues a Jessie Bates trade to San Francisco is unrealistic because Atlanta remains in the weak NFC South race and likely won't sell, and they expect 49ers safety Ji'Ayir Brown to depart in free agency after this season. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7e8279a5-fad4-4c61-9646-0809bdcdaf40 (scored 0)
- Carter Bahns on Atlanta Falcons: Bahns predicts a high-scoring Madrid game in which Atlanta's more reliable defense, bolstered by the return of pass rusher James Pearce Jr., gets the edge over Cincinnati, with the Falcons winning 34-30. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c42354bb-2aa0-434c-b184-4315f447f9c9 (scored 19.05)

## More availability calls

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

- Parker Hurley on Deebo Samuel Sr.: Hurley argued the 49ers' real deadline need was a pass-catching tight end rather than a receiver, and stated that Deebo Samuel will be available to play this week for San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ae5291fa-ecc5-4950-9235-fba7a9bbbcd1 (not settled)
- Ethan Hurwitz on TreVeyon Henderson: Hurwitz laid out that Henderson's IR placement rules the running back out through Week 14, with Week 15 against the Chiefs the earliest possible return, and suggested the season may already be finished given the Patriots' limited return-to-play designations. Hurwitz also projected Rhamondre Stevenson continuing as the lead back with Corey Kiner and Lan Larison taking on larger offensive roles. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/90dc59fd-f9cd-4003-8198-8469fd45d62e (not settled)
- Bill Huber on Lukas Van Ness: Huber reasoned from the fact that neither Arron Mosby nor Nyjalik Kelly was elevated that edge rusher Lukas Van Ness, listed as questionable with a back injury, would be healthy enough to play in Sunday's game against the Vikings. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4a68970a-3ae8-46c4-a395-298520a3614b (not settled)
- Jose Sanchez on Keenan Allen: Sanchez argued the 49ers should have rested newly acquired receiver Keenan Allen against Dallas since Allen will go the whole 2026 season without a bye, but expects Allen to suit up and play every game starting with Sunday's game versus the Cowboys. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fb08e172-6694-4e55-a092-2b59e28fa9a2 (not settled)
- Alain Poupart on Chris Bell: Poupart expects wide receiver Chris Bell to be inactive for the Week 10 game at Indianapolis because of a knee injury, with Jalen Reagor elevated in place of Bell. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cec7fbf1-6192-474f-9d80-f1efb9574ce8 (not settled)
- Jose Sanchez on Keenan Allen: Sanchez expects Keenan Allen to play in the 49ers' game against Dallas in a limited role on passing downs, and argues an injury is more likely than not given age and injury history, meaning Allen will end up being more of the same at receiver for San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ee391462-23a7-487d-ae3f-667d892af236 (not settled)

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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.

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