Mike Florio#15 of 87 NFL pundits · Oct 18, 2026
Florio previews the Bears-Falcons matchup, noting both quarterbacks are expected to play: Caleb Williams returns from a hamstring injury and Michael Penix Jr. will play through a rib injury.
Published in writing · NBC SportsRead the original
What Mike Florio said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromFor the Falcons, Michael Penix Jr. will play despite a rib injury that knocked him out late in the Week 5 overtime loss.
- Where it was published
- NBC Sports
- The piece
- Bears-Falcons features NFL's top two rushing attacks
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Availability Calls“Bears starter Caleb Williams returns, four weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Vikings.”
- 2Availability Calls“For the Falcons, Michael Penix Jr. will play despite a rib injury that knocked him out late in the Week 5 overtime loss.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “Bears starter Caleb Williams returns, four weeks after…”1 | Availability Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| “For the Falcons, Michael Penix Jr. will play despite a rib…”2 | Availability Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 2 calls · 2 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
2 checkable claims — 2 availability calls — 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.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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.
1Availability CallsCaleb WilliamsChicago Bears
“Bears starter Caleb Williams returns, four weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Vikings.”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Availability CallsMichael Penix Jr.Atlanta Falcons
“For the Falcons, Michael Penix Jr. will play despite a rib injury that knocked him out late in the Week 5 overtime loss.”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be taken No. 1 overall by the Raiders and to be thrown into the starting lineup immediately, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta within weeks.Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be the No. 1 overall pick and land with the Raiders, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta.JP Acosta · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Acosta expects John Harbaugh's Giants to jump to roughly seven wins in year one, and forecast several offseason moves: Aaron Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh, Daniel Jones returning to the Colts, Kirk Cousins being released by Atlanta, and Brandon Aiyuk leaving San Francisco.Gregg Rosenthal · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Rosenthal gave their award ballot: Drake May atop their MVP list (though they expect Matthew Stafford to actually win), Myles Garrett for Defensive Player of the Year, Bijan Robinson for Offensive Player of the Year, Tetairoa McMillan for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Carson Schwesinger for Defensive Rookie of the Year, Mike Macdonald for Coach of the Year and Broncos O-line coach Zach Strief for Assistant Coach of the Year. They also expect Kirk Cousins to be cut by Atlanta.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.
More availability calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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Hurley argued the 49ers' real deadline need was a pass-catching tight end rather than a receiver, and stated that Deebo Samuel will be available to play this week for San Francisco.Ethan Hurwitz · Availability Calls · TreVeyon Henderson · Waiting
Hurwitz laid out that Henderson's IR placement rules the running back out through Week 14, with Week 15 against the Chiefs the earliest possible return, and suggested the season may already be finished given the Patriots' limited return-to-play designations. Hurwitz also projected Rhamondre Stevenson continuing as the lead back with Corey Kiner and Lan Larison taking on larger offensive roles.Jose Sanchez · Availability Calls · Keenan Allen · Waiting
Sanchez argued the 49ers should have rested newly acquired receiver Keenan Allen against Dallas since Allen will go the whole 2026 season without a bye, but expects Allen to suit up and play every game starting with Sunday's game versus the Cowboys.Alain Poupart · Availability Calls · Chris Bell · Waiting
Poupart expects wide receiver Chris Bell to be inactive for the Week 10 game at Indianapolis because of a knee injury, with Jalen Reagor elevated in place of Bell.Jose Sanchez · Availability Calls · Keenan Allen · Waiting
Sanchez expects Keenan Allen to play in the 49ers' game against Dallas in a limited role on passing downs, and argues an injury is more likely than not given age and injury history, meaning Allen will end up being more of the same at receiver for San Francisco.