# Philip Hughes: Hughes surveys Washington's remaining roster questions, asserting that Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs are locks for the 53-man roster and that Antonio Williams has essentially secured a spot as the third receiver, while Percy Butler's standing improved after safety cuts.

**Claimed:** Aug 27, 2026
**Pundit:** Philip Hughes — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/philip-hughes
**Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/commanders/onsi/commanders-53-man-roster-cuts-5-questions-preseason-finale

3 checkable claims — 2 roster spot calls and 1 depth chart call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

2 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.

Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the rest of the room.

> Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs are going nowhere, and Antonio Williams has done just about everything possible to strengthen his case throughout camp.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Terry McLaurin to make the roster**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess
- **Stefon Diggs to make the roster**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Stefon Diggs, Washington Commanders
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess
- **Antonio Williams to be 3rd on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Antonio Williams, Washington Commanders
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Terry McLaurin — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/terry-mclaurin
- Washington Commanders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/commanders
- Stefon Diggs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/stefon-diggs
- Antonio Williams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/antonio-williams-1040

## What others said about the same people

- David Harrison on Washington Commanders: Harrison lays out a path for the Washington Commanders to exceed their 7.5-win total, identifying eight specific games he projects them to win: home vs. Seattle (Week 3), vs. Indianapolis in London (Week 4), a sweep of the Giants (Weeks 5 and 10), at Arizona (Week 12), at Tennessee (Week 13), vs. Atlanta (Week 15) and vs. Dallas (Week 18). He also says the Bengals (Week 11) and Texans (Week 14) games are winnable. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/557473e2-242a-41c5-beb5-026d792d86fa (scored 100)
- David Harrison on Tim Settle: Harrison gives his initial 53-man roster projection for the Washington Commanders: three quarterbacks including Ethan Kalyak Manus, three running backs, four tight ends, six receivers (leaving off De'Ami Brown and Jaden Bradley), nine offensive linemen with Matt Goldman at center, and a defense of six linebackers but only four cornerbacks. He also projects Tunstall and Newton going to IR on Monday with De'Ami Brown and Dietrich Wise re-signed, plus a corner-heavy practice squad. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1d5b2565-5531-47ac-bff8-ccb9b23a980a (scored 100)
- David Harrison on Tyler Ott: Harrison projects the Washington Commanders' initial 53-man roster if it had to be set today, naming 26 offensive players, three specialists and 24 defenders, and also assigns depth-chart slots at quarterback, running back, the offensive line, the interior defensive line, and the return/specialist jobs. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2e2254ee-daf7-4f82-81d4-2bc73e1b7291 (scored 100)
- Nathan Jahnke on Luke McCaffrey: An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100)
- Nathan Jahnke on Luke McCaffrey: PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a series of depth-chart, roster and usage projections based on final-week preseason snap counts, including Ja'Kobi Lane locking down the Ravens' third receiver role, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Kyle Pitts facing reduced 12-personnel usage, Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2 and Emmett Johnson as the Chiefs' backup running back. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/265cbdba-b0e0-4f80-9665-a4ca5aaec53e (scored 100)
- Nathan Jahnke on Antonio Williams: An unsigned PFF preseason snap-count review that draws depth-chart, roster-spot and fantasy conclusions from the first week of preseason games — naming starters and backups across nearly every team, flagging sleepers such as Keaton Mitchell, Tyjae Spears, Jahan Dotson and Greg Dulcich, and fading players like Mike Gesicki, Pat Freiermuth, Gunnar Helm and Cam Skattebo. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/45c8bf54-1a8e-45dd-909f-6e4c60f09f95 (scored 100)

## More roster spot calls

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

- Jeff Kerr on Zach Ertz: Kerr expects Zach Ertz to be elevated from the practice squad and play in the Eagles' Week 3 Monday night game against the Bears, and to serve as Philadelphia's clear TE1 with Dallas Goedert out. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7e4fa8de-f88c-4d45-b568-49992a356539 (scored 0)
- Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr ranks the Eagles' eight undrafted free agents by their chances of making the initial 53-man roster, with Kapena Gushiken the most likely and predicts at least one UDFA makes the 53. He also forecasts practice squad spots for Zion Wilson, Deontae Lawson and Maximus Pulley, and a release for long snapper Rocco Underwood. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6ec1d507-c7b6-4873-a0a2-76817706e297 (scored 100)
- Carter Bahns on Jeshaun Jones: A CBS Sports piece expects suspended Vikings receiver Jeshaun Jones to lose his roster battle and be cut by the Aug. 30 deadline, given Minnesota's established receiver group. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/98c7155f-d05c-43cb-8c03-4f50d43211a8 (scored 0)
- Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr's third Eagles 53-man roster projection names the players he expects to make the team at each position, with Cole Payton, Elijah Moore, Johnny Wilson, Gabe Hall and Rocco Underwood left off; he also predicts Underwood is exposed to waivers and returns to the practice squad, Deontae Lawson lands on the practice squad, and Eli Stowers is the TE3. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2120c4ea-7113-4ebf-9ebc-0d4a62d83c3a (scored 100)
- Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr's updated 53-man roster projection for the Eagles after eight training camp practices, naming which players make the team at each position plus depth-chart placements like Wicks as WR2, Mundt as TE2, Kendall as third guard, Bell as third tackle, and Epps/Carter battling to start at safety. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/328a952b-d6b4-4065-aac9-0029421fb50f (scored 100)
- Ralph Ventre on Christian Benford: Ventre 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/94b844fe-bb22-4517-81f5-6263eb0213f1 (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

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=philip-hughes
