# Ian Rapoport: Rapoport gave status calls on several injured stars heading into Week 2: they expect Joe Burrow to play Sunday though maybe not at full health, thinks Kyler Murray is likely to start if they get full practice participation, would be surprised if Joey Porter Jr. plays this weekend, and expects Aaron Donald to debut on Monday night against the Giants. **Claimed:** Sep 18, 2026 **Pundit:** Ian Rapoport — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/ian-rapoport **Outlet:** The Pat McAfee Show (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/the-pat-mcafee-show-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ESP7573330342.mp3 4 checkable claims — 4 availability calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. > He's gonna play, but how close to a 100% is he gonna be? *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - “He's gonna play, but how close to a 100% is he gonna be? ... he didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday ... going into Sunday (Week 2)” - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: not settled yet - “my understanding has been the target has been Monday night football at home against the Giants ... but the hope is that he plays on Monday night.” - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - “You see the trainer leave with Porter. You know, we'll see what his status is this weekend. I'd be a little surprised if he plays.” - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Joey Porter Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - “And then Kyler, you know, if he can get to a full participation today, then I would say it's likely he starts Sunday.” - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Joe Burrow — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/joe-burrow - Cincinnati Bengals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bengals - Aaron Donald — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/aaron-donald - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams - Joey Porter Jr. — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/joey-porter-jr - Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/steelers - Kyler Murray — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kyler-murray - Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cardinals ## What others said about the same people - Bryan DeArdo on Joey Porter Jr.: The piece predicts Joey Porter Jr. most likely stays with the Steelers through 2026, while listing possible trade destinations if they were moved. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a6edcb85-bcff-47cb-ba7d-e09dc7549fe1 (scored 0) - Colin Cowherd on Matthew Stafford: Cowherd predicts Matt Stafford stays with the Rams rather than moving on, and says Travis Hunter may underachieve because they're being asked to play both ways — Cowherd doubts they're a No. 1 receiver and would slot them as a No. 2 receiver while being a No. 1 corner. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/005e6ad1-bc95-49da-9db2-3a9da2d5041d (scored 100) - Colin Cowherd on Matthew Stafford: Cowherd believes Matt Stafford's public negotiation posturing means he ultimately stays in Los Angeles, and he flags Travis Hunter as a high draft pick who could underachieve because trying to play both cornerback and receiver full-time will hurt him. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2c1faeb3-7adb-456d-bd42-275be95269e8 (scored 100) - Pete Prisco on Los Angeles Rams: Prisco gives score predictions for every Week 9 NFL game, picking the Bengals to rout the Falcons in Madrid, the Cowboys to rebound at Indianapolis, and the Jaguars to win in Baltimore without Lamar Jackson. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dc43909b-bc7f-47aa-b208-5cf7c95844bc (scored 92.86) - Chris Simms on Los Angeles Rams: Simms gave a predicted final score for every Week 9 game, picking the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Lions, Giants, Rams, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks, Texans, Bears and Bills, and also said they wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/17eb747a-90b1-472f-bb6d-e71c0c69133a (scored 92.86) - Connor Rogers on Los Angeles Rams: Rogers picked straight-up winners in every Week 9 game, agreeing with Simms on all of them, and gave a 24-20 Bills score over the Vikings on Monday night. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/11646f69-18dd-4831-a7de-e4115ded875c (scored 100) ## 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) --- 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=ian-rapoport