# Fox Sports: Reporting on Jack Strand's pick-six debut, the piece predicts his 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

- Scott Kennedy on Tua Tagovailoa: Kennedy reports that Atlanta is expected to keep three quarterbacks on its 53-man roster: Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., and undrafted rookie Jack Strand. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4271fbfe-2320-41d0-a8f0-000ddbb80076 (scored 100)
- Tyler Sullivan on Jack Strand: In a rookie quarterback report card following the 2026 preseason, CBS Sports projects Fernando Mendoza opening the year as Kirk Cousins' backup in Las Vegas, Luke Altmyer settling as the Lions' third quarterback behind Joshua Dobbs, and Jack Strand most likely landing on Atlanta's practice squad rather than the 53-man roster. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d84e8921-bcc5-4864-a4b8-1b0562c2c10c (scored 0)
- Carter Bahns on Cooper Rush: A CBS Sports piece names 20 notable veterans it considers at risk of being cut before the 53-man roster deadline, with several pegged for the practice squad or outright release, and also sketches a few depth-chart pecking orders (Titans QBs, Panthers tight ends, Texans receivers, Eagles backfield). — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/94f49c83-2307-4f25-b10c-b1cba9df5dbc (scored 0)
- Scott Kennedy on Charlie Woerner: Kennedy projects the Falcons' roster locks: Kyle Pitts Sr., Austin Hooper and Charlie Woerner are locks at tight end, while Drake London, Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus and Zachariah Branch are all but locks at receiver. He suggests Cash Jones would claim a sixth receiver spot if Atlanta keeps six, and that Muse, Simon and Velling are bubble players. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cae55e50-fe46-42ab-86f1-216c02acde05 (scored 100)
- Jim Moorman on Zachariah Branch: Moorman names five undervalued wide receivers to target relative to their current ADP: Jaylen Waddle, Josh Downs, Wan'Dale Robinson, Jayden Higgins and Zachariah Branch, projecting bigger roles and better finishes than their draft prices suggest. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/744f8eca-c77d-49fe-badc-1410b6f10d92 (scored 0)
- Pete Prisco on Atlanta Falcons: Prisco picks four road/home winners with exact scores: Falcons over Panthers, Bears over Vikings, Jaguars upsetting Broncos, Chargers over Raiders, and Cowboys over Commanders. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/49ffcfc9-5f68-4882-a86f-b835b925412d (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)
- 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)
- Greg Auman on Justin Jefferson: Auman expects Baker Mayfield's thumb injury to push undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels into the Buccaneers' starting quarterback job, and says Justin Jefferson may avoid missing time and play the following week against Miami. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/027991b5-1713-42b7-badd-78a05bf33ecb (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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