Chad Jensen· Aug 9, 2026
With Matt Henningsen lost to a torn Achilles, Jensen projects Denver's defensive line: Zach Allen, D.J. Jones and Malcolm Roach as the starting trio, with Eyioma Uwazurike, Sai'vion Jones, Tyler Onyedim and Jordan Jackson rounding out the seven-man group on the 53-man roster.
“The All-Pro Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, and Malcolm Roach will be the likely starting trio, with Eyioma Uwazurike (who's had an amazing camp), Sai'vion Jones, Tyler Onyedim, and Jordan Jackson the likely names headed for the roster.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
7 checkable claims — 4 roster spot calls and 3 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
4 of 7 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 75 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.
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Who this take is about
7 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
Jordan Jackson to make the roster
“we know the coaches value him, so he'll be difficult to knock out of the picture for the seventh roster spot”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- DEN
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Jordan Jackson
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- 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:
- 4
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
Sai'vion Jones to make the roster
“with Eyioma Uwazurike (who's had an amazing camp), Sai'vion Jones, Tyler Onyedim, and Jordan Jackson the likely names headed for the roster”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- DEN
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Sai'vion Jones
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- 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:
- 4
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Roster Spot CallsTyler OnyedimDenver BroncosAug 9, 2026
Tyler Onyedim to make the roster
“with Eyioma Uwazurike (who's had an amazing camp), Sai'vion Jones, Tyler Onyedim, and Jordan Jackson the likely names headed for the roster”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- DEN
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Tyler Onyedim
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- 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:
- 4
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
Eyioma Uwazurike to make the roster
“with Eyioma Uwazurike (who's had an amazing camp), Sai'vion Jones, Tyler Onyedim, and Jordan Jackson the likely names headed for the roster”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- DEN
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Eyioma Uwazurike
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- 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:
- 4
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Depth Chart CallsD.J. JonesDenver BroncosAug 9, 2026
D.J. Jones to be 1st on the depth chart
“The All-Pro Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, and Malcolm Roach will be the likely starting trio”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsZach AllenDenver BroncosAug 9, 2026
Zach Allen to be 1st on the depth chart
“The All-Pro Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, and Malcolm Roach will be the likely starting trio”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMalcolm RoachDenver BroncosAug 9, 2026
Malcolm Roach to be 1st on the depth chart
“The All-Pro Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, and Malcolm Roach will be the likely starting trio”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Keith SanchezMock Draft Picks · Deontae LawsonMiss · 0In his final 2026 NFL mock draft, Sanchez projects the full first round plus several second-round picks, starting with Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 overall to the Raiders.
- Ayrton OstlyMock Draft Picks · R Mason ThomasClose · 46Ausley walked through his final seven-round mock draft, having the 49ers take Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu at No. 27, Peter Woods to Houston at 28, TJ Parker to Kansas City at 29, Zion Young to the Chargers at 30, Arvel Reese to Arizona at 3, Dallas trading up to 8, Denver taking Mason Thomas at 58, the 49ers taking Malachi Lawrence at 62 and VJ Payne at 133.
- Jaime EisnerMock Draft Picks · Jake GoldayClose · 62In a "What I Would Do" 2026 NFL mock draft, Eisner assigns first-round selections for all 32 picks plus several early second-round picks, starting with Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1.
- Derek BrownMock Draft Picks · Anthony HillMiss · 27Derek Brown made picks 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27 and 30 in the 2026 mock, and also called Kenyon Sadiq the clear TE1 of the class, Carnell Tate his runaway WR1 and KC Concepcion a top-three receiver.
- JP AcostaMock Draft Picks · Cade McDonaldMiss · 0Acosta gave draft ranges for combine risers — Nussmeier in the third round, Kenyon Sadiq in round one, Chris Johnson in round two — and made picks 2, 4, 6 and every other selection in a post-combine first-round mock draft.
- Scott BogmanMock Draft Picks · Anthony HillMiss · 27Bogman's mock picks: Arvel Reese to Arizona at 3, Francis Mauigoa to Cleveland at 6, Keldric Faulk to Kansas City at 9, Sonny Styles to Dallas at 12, Cashius Howell to Tampa Bay at 15, Avieon Terrell to Minnesota at 18, Makai Lemon to Pittsburgh at 21, KC Concepcion to Cleveland at 24, Kayden McDonald to San Francisco at 27 and Anthony Hill to Denver at 30.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Jordan FooteRoster Spot Calls · Cole ChristiansenMiss · 0Foote 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.
- Ralph VentreRoster Spot Calls · Kani WalkerMiss · 0Ventre 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.
- Gene ChamberlainRoster Spot Calls · Marcus DavenportHit · 100Chamberlain 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.
- Randy GurziRoster Spot Calls · Trevon DiggsMiss · 0Gurzi 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.
- John ShipleyRoster Spot Calls · Jabbar MuhammadHit · 100Shipley 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.
- Patricia TrainaRoster Spot Calls · Trace FordHit · 100Traina 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.