# Trevor Ripley: Ripley argues the Vikings should elevate Jerome Ford from the practice squad and expects they may see work Sunday, that Kyle Van Noy's final elevation will force a 53-man roster move with cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn (or center Nick Samac) the likely casualty, and that safety Jay Ward could be traded for a late Day 3 pick. **Claimed:** Sep 24, 2026 **Pundit:** Trevor Ripley — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/trevor-ripley **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/onsi/3-potential-roster-moves-vikings-forced-make-week-3-jay-ward-trade-01m37ahct39e 5 checkable claims — 4 roster spot calls and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 2 of 5 have settled so far, averaging 50 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls. > Ford has been with the team for just over a week, but it's possible he gets some work already on Sunday. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Kyle Van Noy to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Kyle Van Noy, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Zemaiah Vaughn to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Zemaiah Vaughn, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jay Ward to move — “may be traded for a late Day 3 pick”** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Jay Ward - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jerome Ford to land on the practice squad** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jerome Ford, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Nick Samac — “another possible option to be removed from the 53-man roster”** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Nick Samac, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Kyle Van Noy — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kyle-van-noy - Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/vikings - Zemaiah Vaughn — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/zemaiah-vaughn - Jay Ward — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jay-ward - Jerome Ford — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jerome-ford - Nick Samac — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/nick-samac ## What others said about the same people - Jason Harmon on Max Brosmer: Harmon expects the Vikings' quarterback room to stay intact while Kyler Murray is hurt, and predicts Max Brosmer will be released and re-signed to the practice squad since Minnesota won't carry four QBs. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fa393501-3f38-481e-8e75-48125587e911 (scored 0) - Logan Lazarczyk on Kirk Cousins: Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d0fd408a-7dcd-4e50-ac62-6b4510a8a800 (scored 100) - Logan Lazarczyk on Kirk Cousins: Lazarczyk expects the Raiders to be sellers before the trade deadline, suggesting Kirk Cousins could be dealt back to the Vikings and that benched interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson is a prime candidate to be traded somewhere. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fda03952-2ea6-4919-8114-0ebb127478d1 (scored 100) - Charean Williams on Odell Beckham Jr.: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d4fd8cfb-3c75-4209-9e1a-d60e821f315b (scored 0) - Justin Penik on Aaron Jones: Pennock predicted Sam Darnold to Pittsburgh, Zach Baun re-signing in Philadelphia, Charvarius Ward and Jamien Sherwood to Washington, Cam Robinson to Chicago as left tackle, Cam Bynum to the Jets, Darius Slayton to the Chargers, Aaron Jones back to Minnesota and Aaron Rodgers to the Giants. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4af0c93c-46f5-4a2c-ae24-e6ffa81a6559 (scored 100) - Rich Eisen on Sam Darnold: Eisen expects Sam Darnold to remain in Minnesota rather than leave in free agency, and believes the Browns will trade Myles Garrett out of the conference, to an NFC team. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2bab8f84-0dc0-4acd-88d5-539898948d95 (scored 0) ## More roster spot calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/978f775c-5611-4514-ad2f-b35a6eac0402 (scored 0) - Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3c8c47b8-6041-4282-8d21-d21741d8f11b (scored 0) - Parker Hurley on Khalid Kareem: Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5a729417-69ee-493a-9bec-d905fd1a7082 (scored 0) - Chad Jensen on Jordan Turner: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a84d2c6e-5554-46aa-95b1-620858d31e0f (scored 0) - Christian Booher on Anthony Lucas: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/228a7c0e-608b-4043-a8fa-eb3f8b2c4ce8 (scored 0) - Randy Gurzi on Jordan Hudson: Gurzi predicts the Cowboys' 17-man practice squad, naming each player they expect Dallas to sign, including a surprise addition of released Giants tackle Evan Neal. They also predict Jaydon Blue will be claimed off waivers by another team and that Sam Williams will land elsewhere. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a37588ef-f76e-4f06-a951-a85a563271d5 (scored 0) --- 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=trevor-ripley