# Noah Strackbein: Strackbein expects the Steelers' depleted receiver room to force roster moves: practice-squad receiver Brandon Smith being elevated again in Week 6 and eventually signed to the 53-man roster, while Roman Wilson could land on Injured Reserve.

**Claimed:** Oct 17, 2026
**Pundit:** Noah Strackbein — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/noah-strackbein
**Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/onsi/pittsburgh-steelers-wide-receiver-situation-worse-believed

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

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

The call scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.

> At some point, the Steelers will likely sign Brandon Smith off of the practice squad.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Brandon Smith to land on the practice squad**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Brandon Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess

## 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

- Bryan DeArdo on Joey Porter Jr.: The piece predicts Joey Porter Jr. most likely stays with the Steelers through 2026, while listing possible trade destinations if they were moved. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a6edcb85-bcff-47cb-ba7d-e09dc7549fe1 (scored 0)
- Bryan DeArdo on Pittsburgh Steelers: DeArdo picks the Steelers to beat the Browns at home in Week 8, citing Pittsburgh's quarterback edge and a running game that should exploit Cleveland's weak run defense. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ea81598d-c498-4a5f-a479-a76cec7979e6 (scored 59.52)
- Greg Jennings on Pittsburgh Steelers: Jennings backed the Vikings to upset the Lions in Detroit, put chips on the Steelers over the Browns, and took the Chiefs to win in Denver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f2a33e52-9cab-46bf-a1bf-a5a8e87a5244 (scored 100)
- Chris Simms on Pittsburgh Steelers: Simms gave straight-up winners with predicted final scores for every Week 8 game, including upset calls on the Ravens in Buffalo, the Broncos over the Chiefs, the Jets over the Raiders and the Seahawks over the Bears, and they expected Josh Downs to play for the Colts despite their trade request. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/257149d0-81ab-4feb-a725-ef5bebba04b0 (scored 73.81)
- Connor Rogers on Pittsburgh Steelers: Rogers picked straight-up winners across the Week 8 slate, siding with the Bills over the Ravens, the Lions, Steelers, Jaguars, Bengals, Falcons, Raiders, Broncos, Rams, Patriots, Commanders and the Bears in Seattle. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/14b3a81b-ba4d-4270-b122-8cfe7fc959b0 (scored 100)
- James Harrison on Pittsburgh Steelers: Harrison picked the Steelers to beat the Browns in their Sunday meeting, saying Pittsburgh would even the season series at 1-1 after losing the first matchup. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0cd70cea-f5fe-44d1-a99f-bd527f74e175 (scored 100)

## More roster spot calls

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

- Parker Hurley on Khalid Kareem: 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 (scored 0)
- Jason Harmon on Max Brosmer: Harmon expects the Vikings' quarterback room to stay intact while Kyler Murray is hurt, and predicts Max Brosmer will be released and re-signed to the practice squad since Minnesota won't carry four QBs. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fa393501-3f38-481e-8e75-48125587e911 (scored 0)
- Chad Jensen on Jordan Turner: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a84d2c6e-5554-46aa-95b1-620858d31e0f (scored 0)
- Charean Williams on Odell Beckham Jr.: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d4fd8cfb-3c75-4209-9e1a-d60e821f315b (scored 0)
- Christian Booher on Anthony Lucas: Booher previews the Lions' Week 9 trip to Miami, predicting Derrick Barnes takes over as the green-dot linebacker in Jack Campbell's absence, Juice Scruggs starts at center, and boldly forecasting Detroit's first defensive touchdown of the season on an Aidan Hutchinson strip-sack recovered and returned by Barnes. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/228a7c0e-608b-4043-a8fa-eb3f8b2c4ce8 (scored 0)
- Randy Gurzi on Jordan Hudson: Gurzi predicts the Cowboys' 17-man practice squad, naming each player they expect Dallas to sign, including a surprise addition of released Giants tackle Evan Neal. They also predict Jaydon Blue will be claimed off waivers by another team and that Sam Williams will land elsewhere. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a37588ef-f76e-4f06-a951-a85a563271d5 (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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