# Gavin Carlson: Carlson expected the Rams to be without three key players against the Raiders, assuming Puka Nacua would sit after leaving practice early, and doubting both Trent McDuffie and Nate Landman would play. **Claimed:** Oct 23, 2026 **Pundit:** Gavin Carlson — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/gavin-carlson **Outlet:** Locked On Rams (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/locked-on-rams-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/3fd73b/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/8dce8ffe-a488-4ce0-b9c9-e364b7dbd0dc/episodes/70affe5b-70c3-40a5-b7b4-282997a6788a/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=8dce8ffe-a488-4ce0-b9c9-e364b7dbd0dc&awEpisodeId=70affe5b-70c3-40a5-b7b4-282997a6788a&feed=a4Q6EDeU 3 checkable claims — 3 availability calls — 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. > If I had to guess, I'm gonna assume that Puka is not playing. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - “Nate Landon, we find out on Monday, suddenly has a concussion... So probably no Nate Landman either, Travis.” - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Nate Landman, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - “If I had to guess, I'm gonna assume that Puka is not playing... So we're gonna assume Puka is out (vs. the Raiders on Sunday)” - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - “Trent McDuffie, it sounds like... If I had to guess, just like with Puka, I don't expect Trent McDuffie to play... I don't think he's gonna play, on Sunday.” - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Trent McDuffie, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Nate Landman — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/nate-landman - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams - Puka Nacua — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/puka-nacua - Trent McDuffie — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/trent-mcduffie ## What others said about the same people - 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) - Jordan Dajani on Los Angeles Rams: Dajani picked all seven featured Week 9 games with final scores, including a blowout Jaguars win in Baltimore, an Atlanta upset of Cincinnati in Madrid, and a narrow Bills win in Minneapolis. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/103d86e2-5305-4b84-af26-05220db83778 (scored 92.86) ## More availability calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Tyler DeSena on Aaron Brewer: Previewing Miami's Week 10 trip to Indianapolis, DeSena expects center Aaron Brewer to be unavailable for the game while in concussion protocol, and frames the rest of the piece around Jonathan Taylor and Grover Stewart having big days, pressure dominating both passing attacks, and Ollie Gordon setting a career high in carries. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/adc53ba6-9796-4b6d-844b-88b21cc8f089 (not settled) - JP Acosta on Mike Evans: Acosta argues no Super Bowl contender is flawless and names the fatal flaw for each, but the only firm forward-looking claim is that Mike Evans is unlikely to play against Dallas next week. The rest are conditional 'if they lose, here's why' framings rather than outright predictions. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/21061fbe-25de-4a51-9a45-33ca59fbf021 (not settled) - John Breech on Micah Parsons: Breech offered five bold second-half predictions, chief among them that the Packers win the NFC North despite being the division's longest shot, and that the Broncos overtake the Bills for the AFC's No. 1 seed for a second straight year. Breech also expected Micah Parsons back on the field in Week 12. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/94390c6d-8c93-48df-b3e8-95b822d3a67f (not settled) - Michael Moore on Hunter Henry: Running through the Week 10 injury report, Moore expects Rhamondre Stevenson, Puka Nacua and Mike Evans to sit out, while projecting Amon-Ra St. Brown, Bam Knight, Deebo Samuel, George Pickens and Hunter Henry to be available. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cd84e832-035b-4ba3-90e9-e928c1396bf9 (not settled) - Jack Markowski on Michael Pittman: Markowski writes that with no practice window opened, Pittman Jr. is unlikely to play against Cincinnati, while Ben Skowronek appears ready to return for that same game. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c75bea81-68d2-49b2-8697-d899bf40db47 (not settled) - Parker Hurley on Brandin Cooks: 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 (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=gavin-carlson