Randy Gurzi#74 of 87 NFL pundits · Sep 7, 2026
Gurzi writes that Tyler Smith's thumb surgery will land them on IR to start the season with a return around midseason, that capable backup T.J. Bass will step in along the interior line, and that practice squad lineman Nick Leverett should be elevated for Week 1 and could be added to the active roster.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Randy Gurzi said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromSmith will be out 4-6 weeks, meaning he will begin the season on the IR.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Why Cowboys Fans Shouldn't Panic Despite Tyler Smith's Injury
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidSep 7
- GradedSep 25
- 1Nick Leverett to land on the practice squad“Leverett returned to the practice squad and should be elevated for Week 1. The Cowboys could then add Leverett to the active roster”
- 2TJ Bass to be 1st on the depth chart“his backup is more than capable of filling in for the short-term... the Cowboys have the luxury of being able to turn to a starting-caliber player who excels in pass protection”
- 3Tyler Smith — “will begin the season on the IR, back around midseason”“Smith will be out 4-6 weeks, meaning he will begin the season on the IR. The timing isn't ideal with the first game of the year less than one week away, but the good news is that Smith will be back around midseason.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Leverett to land on the practice squad1 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 0 | 100 | −200 | |
| TJ Bass to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Tyler Smith — “will begin the season on the IR, back around midseason”3 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 1 miss · 2 waiting | 0 | 100 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naiveworse than naive3 checkable claims — 2 roster spot calls and 1 depth chart 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.
1 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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.
1Roster Spot CallsNick LeverettDallas Cowboys
Nick Leverett to land on the practice squad
What happened3 weeks on a 530Miss · naive 1000this call−100a naive guess=−100worse than naive×2difficulty=−200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- DAL
- skill:
- −200
- player:
- Nick Leverett
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he lands on the practice squad
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
2Depth Chart CallsTJ BassDallas Cowboys
TJ Bass to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Roster Spot CallsTyler SmithDallas Cowboys
Tyler Smith — “will begin the season on the IR, back around midseason”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Rich Eisen · Trade and Signing Calls · Micah Parsons · Miss 0
Eisen expects Myles Garrett to be traded before the draft and says the Browns will then take Abdul Carter with their early first-round pick; they also predict Buffalo will end up paying James Cook and that Micah Parsons will remain a Cowboy and get their money from Dallas, likely late in the process.Jeff Cavanaugh · Roster Spot Calls · Marist Liufau · Hit 100
Building their 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.Jake Arthur · Game Outcome Picks · Dallas Cowboys · Hit 100
Arthur predicted the Cowboys would beat the Colts 31-24 at Lucas Oil Stadium, a closer loss than Indianapolis' recent blowouts, citing Dallas' large talent edge offset by its poor defense. They also made several lineup calls for the game and suggested it could be Jonathan Taylor's last home game as a Colt ahead of the trade deadline.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman expects Sean Fresch Jr. to clear waivers and return to the Broncos' practice squad, sees Riley Moss back from concussion for the Week 11 game at Las Vegas, and projects newly acquired Daiyan Henley to begin as the third inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before likely moving into a starting role.Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman writes that Riley Moss may sit out the preseason finale against Minnesota but should be available for the Week 1 opener at Kansas City; they also suggest undrafted corners Sean Fresch Jr. and Brent Austin are being evaluated for practice squad spots.Chad Jensen · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Turner · Miss 0
Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot.Charean Williams · Roster Spot Calls · Odell Beckham Jr. · Miss 0
Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad.