# Jack Markowski: Markowski argues three Steelers effectively secured 53-man roster spots with their preseason performances against Green Bay: safety Robert Spears-Jennings, tight end Robert Tonyan, and fullback/tight end Riley Nowakowski.

**Claimed:** Aug 15, 2026
**Pundit:** Jack Markowski — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jack-markowski
**Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/onsi/3-pittsburgh-steelers-locked-up-roster-spot-packers

3 checkable claims — 3 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

All 3 have settled, averaging 100 out of 100, against 33.3 for a naive guess at the same calls.

> At this point, it's nearly impossible to foresee a world where Pittsburgh doesn't include Spears-Jennings on its 53-man roster.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Robert Spears-Jennings to make the roster**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Robert Spears-Jennings, Pittsburgh Steelers
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Robert Tonyan to make the roster**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Robert Tonyan, Pittsburgh Steelers
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess
- **Riley Nowakowski to make the roster**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Riley Nowakowski, Pittsburgh Steelers
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess

## Who this take is about

- Robert Spears-Jennings — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/robert-spears-jennings
- Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/steelers
- Robert Tonyan — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/robert-tonyan
- Riley Nowakowski — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/riley-nowakowski

## What others said about the same people

- Bryan DeArdo on Drew Allar: A CBS Sports piece lays out Pittsburgh's quarterback pecking order: Aaron Rodgers starts, Mason Rudolph is the No. 2, rookie Drew Allar sits at No. 3 and Will Howard is fourth, with the Steelers expected to keep all four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster rather than trading Howard. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4af69b53-867a-4e1f-8e7d-7f699e4ed649 (scored 100)
- Kevin Patra on Mason Rudolph: Patra argues the Steelers are increasingly likely to keep four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster, with Mason Rudolph and third-round pick Drew Allar both safe, leaving Will Howard's spot as the only real question. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5d2a53ae-b642-4021-9718-b3ab8e83c9b0 (scored 100)
- Nathan Jahnke on Robert Tonyan: An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100)
- Noah Strackbein on Michael Pittman: Strackbein predicts the Steelers will keep six wide receivers on the 53-man roster: DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Ben Skowronek and Kaden Wetjen. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1552915f-2239-4d0e-afaa-a991d5963946 (scored 100)
- Nathan Jahnke on Robert Tonyan: An unsigned PFF fantasy preseason recap makes a series of depth-chart and roster-spot calls: Roman Wilson wins the Steelers' third receiver job over Germie Bernard, Robert Tonyan makes Pittsburgh's roster as the third tight end, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III stick in New England, Mike Washington Jr. is the Raiders' primary backup back, Jalen Nailor stays a Raiders starter, Kaelon Black leads the 49ers' backup running back competition, and Charlie Kolar is the Chargers' top tight end with top-12 fantasy upside. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e9e8a675-165c-4246-a19c-eec9f5dfccf4 (scored 100)
- Bryan DeArdo on Mason Rudolph: A CBS Sports piece lists veterans it expects could be traded before the 53-man roster deadline, including quarterbacks Anthony Richardson (with Buffalo floated as a landing spot), J.J. McCarthy and Will Howard, plus Jerry Jeudy, Joey Porter Jr., Tyrone Tracy Jr., Kayvon Thibodeaux, Josh Sweat, Kristian Fulton and Marist Liufau. It also says Mason Rudolph's and Drew Allar's roster spots in Pittsburgh are secure. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/bd269550-714b-4a52-b6e1-2ba079b58fef (scored 100)

## More roster spot calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Jeff Kerr on Zach Ertz: Kerr expects Zach Ertz to be elevated from the practice squad and play in the Eagles' Week 3 Monday night game against the Bears, and to serve as Philadelphia's clear TE1 with Dallas Goedert out. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7e4fa8de-f88c-4d45-b568-49992a356539 (scored 0)
- Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr ranks the Eagles' eight undrafted free agents by their chances of making the initial 53-man roster, with Kapena Gushiken the most likely and predicts at least one UDFA makes the 53. He also forecasts practice squad spots for Zion Wilson, Deontae Lawson and Maximus Pulley, and a release for long snapper Rocco Underwood. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6ec1d507-c7b6-4873-a0a2-76817706e297 (scored 100)
- Carter Bahns on Jeshaun Jones: A CBS Sports piece expects suspended Vikings receiver Jeshaun Jones to lose his roster battle and be cut by the Aug. 30 deadline, given Minnesota's established receiver group. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/98c7155f-d05c-43cb-8c03-4f50d43211a8 (scored 0)
- Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr's third Eagles 53-man roster projection names the players he expects to make the team at each position, with Cole Payton, Elijah Moore, Johnny Wilson, Gabe Hall and Rocco Underwood left off; he also predicts Underwood is exposed to waivers and returns to the practice squad, Deontae Lawson lands on the practice squad, and Eli Stowers is the TE3. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2120c4ea-7113-4ebf-9ebc-0d4a62d83c3a (scored 100)
- Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr's updated 53-man roster projection for the Eagles after eight training camp practices, naming which players make the team at each position plus depth-chart placements like Wicks as WR2, Mundt as TE2, Kendall as third guard, Bell as third tackle, and Epps/Carter battling to start at safety. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/328a952b-d6b4-4065-aac9-0029421fb50f (scored 100)
- Ralph Ventre on Christian Benford: Ventre expects Christian Benford's toe injury to sideline him for at least the Week 4 game against New England, and believes the Bills will have to add a cornerback to the 53-man roster this week — likely by moving Benford to injured reserve — with practice squad rookie Kani Walker the most likely player elevated. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/94b844fe-bb22-4517-81f5-6263eb0213f1 (scored 0)

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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

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