Josh Alper· Oct 7, 2026
Alper writes that Cam Jurgens, acquired by trade and in the concussion protocol, won't debut for Baltimore until the following week, leaving Vega Ioane as the likeliest starter at center against the Falcons before sliding back to right guard once Jurgens is available.
“Vega Ioane started at center for Baltimore in Week 4 and he's the likeliest choice to be there against the Falcons on Sunday night.”
published in writing · NBC Sports · read the original →
3 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls and 1 availability call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 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.
Where this call stands in the room
Olaivavega Ioane · 2026 season6 calls from 6 pundits between 1 and 1. Josh Alper 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.
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Who this take is about
The game in this take
- Titans at Ravens 18 calls
3 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.
Olaivavega Ioane to be 1st on the depth chart
“Vega Ioane started at center for Baltimore in Week 4 and he's the likeliest choice to be there against the Falcons on Sunday night.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+178 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- BAL
- week:
- 4
- skill:
- 178
- player:
- Olaivavega Ioane
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he starts
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- position:
- center
- reported:
- named the starter
- settled by:
- a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
- difficulty:
- 1.78
- the naive guess:
- no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 14
“The Ravens traded for center Cam Jurgens on Wednesday, but it doesn't look like his debut for the team will come for another week.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Olaivavega Ioane to be 1st on the depth chart
“Once Jurgens is ready to step into the lineup, Ioane will likely move back to his original spot at right guard.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Nick WrightSeason Win Totals · Baltimore RavensMiss · 0Nick Wright predicts Shedeur Sanders stays behind Dylan Gabriel on the Browns depth chart, forecasts a season where Flacco is benched a third of the way in, Gabriel then fails, Shedeur then fails, and Cleveland drafts a quarterback next year. He also makes a long list of win-total, playoff and division calls across the AFC North and beyond.
- Gregg RosenthalSeason Win Totals · Baltimore RavensMiss · 0Rosenthal's under picks and a few freebie leans: Colts under 7.5 (possibly the worst team), Commanders under 9.5, Saints under 5.5 (possibly 2-15), Bears under 8.5, plus stated likes on Dolphins under 8.5, Giants over 5.5 and Ravens over 11.5.
- Kyle CrabbsMock Draft Picks · Sebastian CastroMiss · 0Crabbs projects all seven rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, starting with Cam Ward going No. 1 overall to Tennessee, Travis Hunter second to Cleveland and Abdul Carter third to the Giants.
- Evan SilvaFantasy Defense Calls · Baltimore RavensHit · 83In his 2020 fantasy defense/special teams rankings, Silva puts the Steelers first, the 49ers second and the Ravens third, citing pass rush, favorable early schedules and game scripts.
- Manti Te'oAward Picks · Lamar JacksonMiss · 0Picked a Rams–Ravens Super Bowl with Baltimore winning, and Lamar Jackson taking both season MVP and Super Bowl MVP. He also picked Jalen Carter as Defensive Player of the Year.
- Dan PatrickAward Picks · Lamar JacksonMiss · 0The host (identified only as "Jake") ranks the remaining quarterbacks with Mahomes first and Lamar ahead of Allen in the AFC, Stafford first and Daniels over Goff with Hurts last in the NFC, picks Lamar Jackson for MVP, and takes the Chiefs, Lions and Eagles to win their divisional games.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Mike MoraitisDepth Chart Calls · Tyson BagentMiss · 0Previewing the Bears-Packers Week 5 matchup, he states Tyson Bagent will again start at quarterback for Chicago, while framing Green Bay's receivers, pass defense and return game as threats. The rest of the piece is descriptive analysis of season-to-date statistics rather than forecasts of outcomes.
- John BreechDepth Chart Calls · Jameis WinstonHit · 100Breech picked the Eagles to beat the Bears 23-16 on Monday night, and expected Jameis Winston to start at quarterback for the Giants in Week 4 against Arizona while newly acquired J.J. McCarthy gets up to speed.
- Chris RolingDepth Chart Calls · Drew LockMiss · 0Roling expects Sam Darnold's hip injury to keep him out, meaning Drew Lock will be Seattle's quarterback when the Chargers visit in Week 4.
- Christian BooherDepth Chart Calls · Blake MillerMiss · 0Booher 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.
- Carter BahnsDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersMiss · 0Bahns calls it reality that Shedeur Sanders will take over as Cleveland's starting quarterback by Week 4, with Deshaun Watson set to fail.
- Carter BahnsDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersMiss · 0A 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.