# Mike Moraitis: Reviewing Cowboys preseason standouts, Moraitis argues safety Julius Wood is unlikely to crack the 53-man roster given Dallas' depth at safety but is positioning himself to land on the practice squad.

**Claimed:** Aug 16, 2026
**Pundit:** Mike Moraitis — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mike-moraitis
**Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/onsi/every-surprise-standout-from-dallas-cowboys-preseason-week-1-win

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.

> he is putting himself in position to stick on the practice squad

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Julius Wood to land on the practice squad**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Julius Wood, Dallas Cowboys
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Julius Wood — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/julius-wood
- Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cowboys

## What others said about the same people

- 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)
- Ty Schmit on Joey Porter Jr.: 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 100)
- Chris Simms on Joey Porter Jr.: Simms picked Pittsburgh to win a close, low-scoring Thursday night game in Cleveland by a late field goal, 20-17, and expected Joey Porter Jr.'s market value to land in the low-to-mid $20 million range, with a possible franchise tag from Dallas after the season. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fedd8e8e-b22f-4f7c-b745-3652ed78562f (scored 100)
- Lance Zierlein on Sonny Styles: Zuerlein describes his mock draft 3.0: Carnell Tate to the Giants at No. 5, Sonny Styles falling to the Cowboys at No. 12, and Colton Hood to Dallas at No. 20. He also expects runs on linebackers from the late twenties to about pick 45, defensive tackles from the early-mid twenties into the 40s, and says Ahvion Terrell's 4.65 forty knocks him out of first-round contention. He calls Kenyon Saddiq and Mansoor Delaine the safest picks for Dallas, and thinks Delaine's tape is top-four caliber, while Jeremiah Smith could be a generational, Megatron-type receiver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3f8e6478-8ee7-441e-b2d1-d0a10233c34a (scored 80.52)
- Nick Wright on Dillon Thieneman: Nick Wright unveiled his full 32-pick 2026 NFL mock draft 4.0, starting with Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1 and ending with Avion Terrell to the Seahawks at 32. He also called Carnell Tate the best/safest receiver in the class, projected Ty Simpson inside the top 45, said Mendoza profiles as a low-end top-15 NFL quarterback, and expected the Dolphins to lose 15 games. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3c5ad8a4-034f-4abb-8806-20dd9e44b5c6 (scored 56.94)

## More roster spot calls

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

- Jordan Foote on Cole Christiansen: Foote writes that after the Week 4 game in Las Vegas, Cole Christiansen will revert to the Chiefs' practice squad, having exhausted his three standard elevations, and considers it unlikely Kansas City signs him to the 53-man roster given Cam Jones' remaining activations and a possible Cooper McDonald return. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0f95f5c2-204e-4a55-9fef-acf1f0883817 (scored 0)
- Ralph Ventre on Kani Walker: 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)
- Gene Chamberlain on Marcus Davenport: Chamberlain argues the Bears' cap restructuring won't lead to a splashy edge-rusher trade for Maxx Crosby or Josh Sweat, and that Marcus Davenport will be promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster as their veteran edge help. He also describes the Bears opening the season with rookie Dillon Thieneman starting at safety and Cam Lewis at the deep safety spot. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/17023c90-bef4-4a59-823f-90408ebbf8d9 (scored 100)
- Randy Gurzi on Trevon Diggs: Gurzi suggests the Seahawks could sign three free agents — safety Donovan Wilson, guard Kevin Zeitler, and running back Kareem Hunt — if weaknesses show up after Week 1. He also notes Trevon Diggs starting on the practice squad and describes Seattle's projected backfield roles. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/350eed1b-4675-4a2d-aaf5-812e20678283 (scored 0)
- John Shipley on Jabbar Muhammad: Shipley projects a full 16-player (plus one international/exemption spot) Jaguars practice squad for 2026, naming specific players at each position he expects to land there. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c0a52b7c-63b2-4e18-b7da-9342dbbc111f (scored 100)
- Patricia Traina on Trace Ford: Traina projects the Giants' initial 53-man roster position by position, naming who makes the team and who lands on the practice squad, including keeping Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Evan Neal (with a possible trade), Dalen Cambre over Braxton Berrios, Lucas Patrick as backup center, and Dominic Zvada as the kicker. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8bb1a183-b45b-44db-8a61-23bdd2238a6b (scored 100)

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