Blaine GrisakOct 23, 2026
Grisak expects both tight end Terrance Ferguson and edge rusher Myles Garrett to remain sidelined well past their initial timelines, likely until after the Rams' Week 11 bye, and believes the Rams will not bench Matthew Stafford. They also argue Colts receiver Josh Downs could be acquired by Los Angeles at a reasonable price.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Blaine Grisak said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromIt wouldn’t be surprising if the Rams’ tight end was out until the bye week in Week 11.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Rams Midweek Report: Sean McVay Faces His Toughest Test, Myles Garrett Uncertainty, Wide Receiver Trade Targets
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Availability Calls“Much like Ferguson, it would not be surprising if Garrett remained sidelined until after the bye week.”
- 2Availability Calls“It wouldn’t be surprising if the Rams’ tight end was out until the bye week in Week 11.”
- 3Josh Downs to move to Los Angeles Rams“With wide receiver Josh Downs in the final year of his rookie contract, he may be someone who’s available and could be acquired at a reasonable price... He’d be a great fit in the offense.”
- 4Matthew Stafford to be 1st on the depth chart“Given Stafford and McVay’s relationship, it’s highly unlikely that the Rams bench their starting quarterback, and they shouldn’t. Unless Stafford gets injured, the Rams aren’t going to shut him down.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “Much like Ferguson, it would not be surprising if Garrett…”1 | Availability Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| “It wouldn’t be surprising if the Rams’ tight end was out until…”2 | Availability Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Josh Downs to move to Los Angeles Rams3 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Matthew Stafford to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 4 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
4 checkable claims — 2 availability calls, 1 depth chart call and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
Matthew Stafford · 2026 season4 calls from 4 pundits between 1 and 1. Blaine Grisak said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
1Availability CallsMyles GarrettLos Angeles Rams
“Much like Ferguson, it would not be surprising if Garrett remained sidelined until after the bye week.”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Availability CallsTerrance FergusonLos Angeles Rams
“It wouldn’t be surprising if the Rams’ tight end was out until the bye week in Week 11.”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Trade and Signing CallsJosh DownsLos Angeles Rams
Josh Downs to move to Los Angeles Rams
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsMatthew StaffordLos Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Noah Compton · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Compton expects the rebuilding Colts to keep dealing veterans before the November 10 deadline, naming Jonathan Taylor, Josh Downs and Grover Stewart as the likeliest remaining trade candidates, and believes Indianapolis should and likely will move on from quarterback Daniel Jones, while Shane Steichen keeps starting Jones in the meantime.Gilberto Manzano · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Previewing the trade deadline, he expects Justin Herbert to stay in Los Angeles despite the Chargers' 0–7 start, thinks the Jets will keep Garrett Wilson and pair him with their young weapons, expects a receiver-hungry Kansas City to be aggressive with Josh Downs the likeliest target, and suggests expiring Eagles contracts Moro Ojomo and Riq Woolen could be dealt for mid-round picks.Joshua Poniatowski · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Poniatowski names several trade targets, predicting Malik Willis underperforms this week against New England, that Omarion Hampton could become a viable RB2 if Adam Gase takes over play-calling, that Josh Downs gets traded (ideally to Kansas City, where they'd be a top-24 WR), that Brian Thomas Jr. could be dealt to the Rams or 49ers, and that Travis Kelce remains a consistent weekly TE.Adam Schefter · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Schefter, as relayed on the show, said they expect Josh Downs to be traded.
More availability calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Parker Hurley · Availability Calls · Deebo Samuel Sr. · Waiting
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.Ethan Hurwitz · Availability Calls · TreVeyon Henderson · Waiting
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.Jose Sanchez · Availability Calls · Keenan Allen · Waiting
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.Alain Poupart · Availability Calls · Chris Bell · Waiting
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.Jose Sanchez · Availability Calls · Keenan Allen · Waiting
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.