# Noah Compton: Compton writes that rookie CJ Allen is essentially assured a starting middle linebacker job, and that fellow rookie Bryce Boettcher has the inside track to start alongside him. **Claimed:** Aug 17, 2026 **Pundit:** Noah Compton — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/noah-compton **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/colts/onsi/colts-address-the-state-of-their-ongoing-position-battles 2 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room. > Fellow rookie linebacker Bryce Boettcher has shined brightly during the preseason and looks to have an inside track to earning the starting job alongside CJ Allen. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **C.J. Allen to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: C.J. Allen, Indianapolis Colts - Verdict: not settled yet - **Bryce Boettcher to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Bryce Boettcher, Indianapolis Colts - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - C.J. Allen — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/c-j-allen - Indianapolis Colts — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/colts - Bryce Boettcher — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bryce-boettcher ## What others said about the same people - Brooke Cersosimo on Indianapolis Colts: Picked winners and exact scores for every Week 4 game, including the Bears over the Jets, the Cowboys in the Battle for Texas and an upset of the Chiefs by the undefeated Raiders. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7717b6ff-86ce-4cda-b192-202b3b80c3c7 (scored 64.29) - Gennaro Filice on Indianapolis Colts: Picked winners and exact scores for every Week 4 game, including the Bills over a struggling Patriots offense, the Eagles over the Rams and the only Browns pick of the panel. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6e4ccf4a-3c43-43c3-9669-50148f4e5452 (scored 76.19) - Bobby Kownack on Indianapolis Colts: Picked winners and exact scores for every Week 4 game, including upsets by the Jets in Chicago and the Buccaneers over the Packers, plus the Jaguars at Cincinnati. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ab70bbf8-6373-48ac-af86-ce8d9da4da35 (scored 66.67) - Dan Parr on Indianapolis Colts: Picked winners and exact scores for every Week 4 game, taking the 49ers to move to 4-0 over Denver, the Saints at home on Monday night and the Steelers in Cleveland. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/816599d6-f95e-4821-addf-bfd5466835e9 (scored 66.67) - Seth Walder on Indianapolis Colts: Walder made a 'bold prediction' for each Week 4 game — including receiving and rushing yardage marks, sacks, an interception and a Dolphins upset — and picked final scores for all 15 games on the slate. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2136c2b6-89e5-4f73-ad78-28d4de9bb6be (scored 69.05) - Pamela Maldonado on Indianapolis Colts: Maldonado picked final scores for all 15 Week 4 games, including Denver upsetting the unbeaten 49ers and Atlanta winning in New Orleans. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c41cfbfd-b264-4643-bbc5-e3ecc1d02e7d (scored 66.67) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Christian Booher on Blake Miller: Booher lays out the Lions' projected depth chart for their Week 4 game at Carolina, naming starters, backups and reserves at every position, and suggests safety Bishop Fitzgerald could make his debut. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/de49ff55-54a5-4410-ba7c-0b7e1f1a2f68 (scored 0) - Carter Bahns on Shedeur Sanders: Bahns calls it reality that Shedeur Sanders will take over as Cleveland's starting quarterback by Week 4, with Deshaun Watson set to fail. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/18802de8-941e-4551-b6e3-df7a752020b6 (scored 0) - Carter Bahns on Shedeur Sanders: A CBS Sports preseason overreaction column argues Shedeur Sanders will take over as Cleveland's starting quarterback by Week 4, that Ja'Kobi Lane has a real path to a No. 2 receiver role as a rookie, and that Kenneth Walker III is a legitimate lead back atop the Chiefs' depth chart. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e82d31e3-169f-4419-a38c-ceaaa1d053a7 (scored 0) - Garrett Podell on Case Keenum: Podell ranks all 32 current NFL starting quarterbacks entering Week 3 of the 2026 season, with Josh Allen first, Patrick Mahomes second and Case Keenum last. He also expects Kyler Murray and Michael Penix Jr. to return to action in Week 3 and Case Keenum to possibly start for the Bears. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0e92b59e-0dd1-43c3-80c1-6551a8b641ac (scored 100) - Fox Sports on Case Keenum: A roundup of NFC injury news expects Jameis Winston to start for the Giants in any games Jaxson Dart misses, and suggests third-stringer Case Keenum could end up starting for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3 with both Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent sidelined. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3aff6d9f-b997-480e-b323-740b6a4677ed (scored 100) - Fox Sports on Case Keenum: With Caleb Williams injured and Tyson Bagent in concussion protocol, third-string quarterback Case Keenum is expected to start for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7726bb2f-b9aa-4c35-aa7b-e0b49990e867 (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=noah-compton