I suppose. I always tend to play my cards close and MOS is the same. Why give out info if you don't have to.
Look at what has happened with CGY. There were a few weeks where you didn't know who would start. Was Mitchell ready? Was he coming back?
IF Streveler starts lighting it up, and Nichols is done for the year, but you don't announce it, it could lead to a similar situation. Making teams at the very least think about it. And maybe spend some time reviewing film on Nichols/preparing for him in practice. After the 6 games, you announce it's week to week. Just gives the other team something to think about.....but If you announce that he's done. That's never going to happen. Does it make a difference? Likely nothing substantial, but there's always that chance that they spend time on Nichols, and miss something on Streveler. Football is a game of inches in almost every way. Little advantages that don't look significant at all, can play a big part in having success.
Sure it's far fetched. But not completely out of the realm of possible. And MOS never seems to right off things that are far fetched.