Gene ChamberlainSep 5, 2026
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. They also describe the Bears opening the season with rookie Dillon Thieneman starting at safety and Cam Lewis at the deep safety spot.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Gene Chamberlain said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromEither way, neither is coming to Chicago as an edge rusher and the Chicago cash situation probably means no one is coming beyond Davenport at a little over the veteran's minimum.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Why Safety and Not Edge Could Be Bears Target After Restructured Deals
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidSep 5
- GradedOct 4
- 1Marcus Davenport to make the roster“The edge rusher they have to pay off that cap total is defensive end Marcus Davenport when they do move him on the 53-man roster.”
- 2Cam Lewis to be 1st on the depth chart“He was supposed to be the deep safety. They'll have Cam Lewis at that spot, instead”
- 3Dillon Thieneman to be 1st on the depth chart“They're going into the season starting rookie Dillon Thieneman but not at the safety spot they intended.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Davenport to make the roster1 | Roster Spot Calls | 1 week on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Cam Lewis to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Dillon Thieneman to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 1 hit · 2 waiting | 100 | 100 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive3 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
Dillon Thieneman · 2026 season7 calls from 5 pundits between 1 and 1. Gene Chamberlain said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
1Roster Spot CallsMarcus DavenportChicago Bears
Marcus Davenport to make the roster
What happened1 week on a 53100Hit · naive 100100this call−100a naive guess=0better than naive×2difficulty=0skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- CHI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Marcus Davenport
- 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:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 4
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 3
2Depth Chart CallsCam LewisChicago Bears
Cam Lewis to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsDillon ThienemanChicago Bears
Dillon Thieneman to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
John Middlekauff · Draft Bust Calls · Caleb Williams · Miss 0
Middlekauff expects either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to win this year's MVP, calling them the two best players in the league. They are pessimistic on the Bears, forecasting six or seven wins and saying they'd bet Caleb Williams doesn't work out as a franchise quarterback. They also see Oklahoma's John Mattier as a first-round pick who'll be in the Heisman mix.Bryan DeArdo · Score Predictions · Chicago Bears · Hit 98
DeArdo picks the Bears to beat the Buccaneers on Sunday night in a defensive game, predicting a 20-16 final score.Danny Parkins · Game Outcome Picks · Chicago Bears · Hit 100
Parkins named the seven AFC teams they believe are already set as the playoff field, expects Chicago, Buffalo and Kansas City to win this week, took Green Bay over New England and Atlanta over Cincinnati outright, and kept Bills–Bears as their Super Bowl matchup with the Giants still winning the NFC East.“Stanford Steve” Coughlin · Game Outcome Picks · Chicago Bears · Hit 100
Stanford Steve said the Bears would beat the Buccaneers on Sunday night, and called a player they referred to as "Yakis" their Rookie of the Year.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Chicago Bears · Hit 98
Simms gave a predicted final score for every Week 9 game, picking the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Lions, Giants, Rams, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks, Texans, Bears and Bills, and also said they wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.