# Ethan Hurwitz: Hurwitz makes bold predictions for the Patriots' 2026 preseason: UDFA receiver Cameron Dorner plays their way onto the practice squad, second-round rookie Gabe Jacas posts at least two sacks, and Christian Gonzalez finally signs their contract extension before Week 1. **Claimed:** Aug 12, 2026 **Pundit:** Ethan Hurwitz — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/ethan-hurwitz **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/onsi/five-bold-predictions-for-patriots-preseason-does-drake-maye-struggle 3 checkable claims — 1 contract call, 1 player season number and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. > Regardless, I predict that Gonzalez heads into Week 1 with some heavier pockets. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Cameron Dorner to land on the practice squad** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Cameron Dorner, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Gabe Jacas to record 2 sacks** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Gabe Jacas, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Christian Gonzalez to sign a new deal with New England Patriots** - Kind: Contract Calls · About: Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Cameron Dorner — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/cameron-dorner - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/patriots - Gabe Jacas — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/gabe-jacas - Christian Gonzalez — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/christian-gonzalez ## What others said about the same people - Pat Fitzmaurice on New England Patriots: Fitzmaurice predicted a 24-21 Patriots win over the Packers, said they would not be surprised if Jonathan Taylor were inactive amid trade talk, pegged Jonah Coleman as an RB22 rest-of-season value, expected Evan Hull to be Arizona's backup back, and saw Kerby Joseph returning in Week 10 or 11. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/41cd806b-d6f3-401d-ac46-33a027d3a0fd (scored 14.29) - Kevin Wildes on New England Patriots: Wildes took Minnesota over Buffalo, predicted a comfortable roughly 10-point New England win over Green Bay, and switched their Super Bowl matchup to Jaguars–Bears. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f31ce48f-df1b-41cf-9d17-ec463ba972d4 (scored 0) - Nick Wright on New England Patriots: Wright argued the Jaguars are the AFC's most complete team, calling them the considerable favorite for the No. 1 seed and the only club essentially locked into the playoffs. They also picked Tampa Bay to upset Chicago, had Kansas City sweeping its next three games, liked New England over Green Bay by about a field goal, and updated their Super Bowl matchup to Chiefs–49ers. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/878403ae-b780-41f0-b38a-200b1a3e36ff (scored 0) - Eric Mangini on New England Patriots: Mangini picked New England to beat Green Bay by more than a field goal, flagged Tampa Bay as their upset alert over Chicago, expects Kansas City to handle the Jets, took Buffalo over Minnesota, backed Cincinnati over Atlanta in Madrid, and updated their Super Bowl to Rams–Bengals. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/af0819c3-4662-44a2-a451-a08fa3b7e59a (scored 0) - Connor Rogers on New England Patriots: 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 0) - Chris Simms on New England Patriots: 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 30.95) ## More contract calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Adam Schefter on Dallas Goedert: Schefter wrote that Dallas Goedert stays in Philadelphia after the deadline and could even re-sign with the Eagles for 2027. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5aaf82a8-c15e-4fad-aa91-5a88d9bd2754 (not settled) - Jack Markowski on Joey Porter Jr.: Markowski argued the Steelers clearly won the Joey Porter Jr. trade with Dallas and suggested Porter Jr. is unlikely to sign a long-term extension with the Cowboys, with a similar possibility floated for George Pickens. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d014debd-f4d3-4a20-bc71-109bce3968d7 (not settled) - Spencer German on Jared Verse: Picked Houston to beat Cleveland in Week 10 by a final score of 24-20, expecting a one-score game decided by the Texans' pass rush overwhelming a struggling Browns offensive line. Also suggested that a strong second half from Jared Verse would lead the Browns to pick up the fifth-year option. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/89e2488b-27e7-41f5-b3f9-bcd039739d63 (not settled) - John Middlekauff on C.J. Stroud: Middlekauff previewed Week 11, projecting the Commanders to finish with six or seven wins and the Giants with eight or nine, naming four AFC teams as playoff locks, and picking the Chiefs, Texans, Steelers and 49ers to win their games. Also predicted a top-15 draft slot for Charlie Becker and an eventual big contract for C.J. Stroud if the Texans finish strong. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1edc2ab2-a022-40b1-9074-e2f0a4a2e0f4 (not settled) - Tom Pelissero on C.J. Stroud: Pelissero picked the Jaguars as the AFC team to like most, said Lamar Jackson will not be cut or traded by Baltimore, and argued C.J. Stroud is heading for a contract that would make him the league's highest-paid quarterback at around $65 million per year. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3131c31e-f020-4e06-a65b-23596d9285e7 (not settled) - Nate Gosney on Daiyan Henley: After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/60272861-4ad0-4749-b36a-dcdf09b9213f (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. 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