# Jack Markowski: Markowski expects Steelers WR Brandon Smith to miss the 53-man roster, be released at final cuts, and land on Pittsburgh's practice squad if healthy. **Claimed:** Aug 20, 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/injury-crushing-pittsburgh-steelers-camp-darling-chances 2 checkable claims — 2 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. > Smith feels like a practice squad lock should he be relatively healthy *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Brandon Smith to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Brandon Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brandon Smith to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Brandon Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Brandon Smith — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brandon-smith-6775 - Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/steelers ## What others said about the same people - Nick Wright on Pittsburgh Steelers: Wright called the Chiefs the NFL's best team and predicted they'd control the Raiders on the road en route to the 12-5 season he had forecast, while also picking the Steelers, Bills and Vikings in Week 4. He expects Tyreek Hill to return to Kansas City, with his Arrowhead return coming Nov. 8 against the Jets, and sees Josh Simmons missing Week 4 but back by the Seahawks game. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1084e46f-ca77-4c03-9425-ac0fa5492de2 (scored 0) - Ty Schmit on Pittsburgh Steelers: Schmidt picked the Steelers to beat the Browns, arguing teams missing multiple offensive line starters play badly against fronts like Pittsburgh's, and he also said he doesn't believe Jerry Jones will pay Joey Porter Jr. right away in Dallas. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/82e62b39-211f-43a1-95fc-a260faf4b4a4 (scored 0) - Chuck Pagano on Pittsburgh Steelers: Pagano picked the Steelers to win Thursday night in Cleveland, citing Pittsburgh's pass rush against a patched-together Browns offensive line and expecting a low-scoring rivalry game. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cf66fb18-c5a0-43d4-aa30-388d02edc42e (scored 0) - AJ Hawk on Pittsburgh Steelers: Hawk said his instincts were on Pittsburgh from the start and he stuck with the Steelers to win in Cleveland on Thursday night. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/44d77c6f-361c-434f-af25-75e959afb410 (scored 0) - Connor "Boston Connor" Campbell on Pittsburgh Steelers: After flirting with taking Cleveland because of the Browns' Thursday night home history, Connor landed on the Steelers to win the game. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/355d60f8-6bfd-4870-b712-a1821d039d38 (scored 0) - Anthony “Tone Digs” DiGuilio on Pittsburgh Steelers: Despite reciting the Browns' dominant Thursday night home history, Tone sided with the Steelers to win the game. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cea3db87-dee9-43d7-96e6-baad881e39ac (scored 0) ## More roster spot calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Scott Kennedy on Michael Penix Jr.: Kennedy reports that Atlanta is expected to keep three quarterbacks on its 53-man roster: Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., and undrafted rookie Jack Strand. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4271fbfe-2320-41d0-a8f0-000ddbb80076 (scored 100) - River Wells on Jalon Daniels: Wells expects Baker Mayfield to sit out the preseason finale, suggests the Buccaneers could still name Jake Browning the backup quarterback entering the regular season, and predicts Tampa Bay will likely keep three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, with both Jalon Daniels and Browning making the active roster. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/68ed4a78-8b3d-41df-a7ce-ff4b248822b2 (scored 100) - Jeff Cavanaugh on Hunter Luepke: Jeff projected the Cowboys' offensive 53-man roster: nine offensive linemen (with Bass, Shelton, Leverett and Cornelius as the depth pieces and Nate Thomas and Keegan cut), three tight ends, Javonte Williams and Malik Davis atop the backfield, and five receivers with Mingo in and Camden Brown headed to the practice squad. He also gave reception and passing projections and said Jayshawn Barham will be starting before long. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c7f7c9cc-4c5c-4060-a83b-61416816422c (scored 100) - Jeff Cavanaugh on Jonathan Bullard: Building his projected Cowboys 53-man roster on defense, Jeff keeps five interior linemen (Kenny Clark, Quentin, Tito Obonia, LT Overton, Bullard), six edge rushers including Von Miller, Malachi Lawrence and Marist Liufau while cutting Sam Williams, four linebackers with Jayshawn Barham starting, six corners including rookie Devin Moore, and four safeties including Marquise Bell. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d20c4eda-eab4-4a8c-ba13-0e120fdd7d91 (scored 100) - Philip Hughes on Caelen Carson: A NFC East news roundup relays that cornerback is Dallas' weakest unit, with Caelen Carson holding on as the last man on the 53-man roster and Cobie Durant slotted in as the Cowboys' second cornerback. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d1535c8f-ca43-4d5e-8f83-3a7104937e16 (scored 100) - Fox Sports on J.J. McCarthy: The FOX Sports report states that the Vikings are expected to keep quarterback J.J. McCarthy on their active roster for the season. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b907a541-ca75-49be-84dc-6d580dbbf91e (scored 100) --- 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=jack-markowski