Mike GarafoloSep 16, 2026
Garafolo expects Aaron Donald to play Monday night for the Rams, Cooper Rush to start again in Week 2, Deshaun Watson to start again in Cleveland in Week 3, and Sam Darnold to return around Week 4 or 5.
Said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)Hear the original
What Mike Garafolo said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromI'm looking for Aaron Donald to be back out there, on the field on Monday night and playing well.
- Where it was said
- The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)
- The episode
- Hour 2: NFL Power Rankings, NFL Insider Mike Garafolo with Guest Host Colleen Wolfe
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Cooper Rush to be 1st on the depth chart“what are you hearing about the starting quarterback for week two?... I would not be surprised if it's, Cooper Rush one more time.”
- 2Availability Calls“to me, I'm looking for Aaron Donald to be back out there, on the field on Monday night and playing well.”
- 3Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart“They'll probably start him again next week at home in week three.”
- 4Availability Calls“I think Ian Rappaport reported last night an outside shot of week three. I I'd say probably, more likely week four into week five for him.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper Rush to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| “to me, I'm looking for Aaron Donald to be back out there, on…”2 | Availability Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| “I think Ian Rappaport reported last night an outside shot of…”4 | Availability Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 4 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
4 checkable claims — 2 availability calls and 2 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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
Deshaun Watson · 2026 season36 calls from 23 pundits between 1 and 2. Mike Garafolo 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.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
1Depth Chart CallsCooper RushAtlanta Falcons
Cooper Rush to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Availability CallsAaron DonaldLos Angeles Rams
“to me, I'm looking for Aaron Donald to be back out there, on the field on Monday night and playing well.”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsDeshaun WatsonCleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Availability CallsSam DarnoldSeattle Seahawks
“I think Ian Rappaport reported last night an outside shot of week three. I I'd say probably, more likely week four into week five for him.”
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.Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Cowherd predicts Matt Stafford stays with the Rams rather than moving on, and says Travis Hunter may underachieve because they're being asked to play both ways — Cowherd doubts they're a No. 1 receiver and would slot them as a No. 2 receiver while being a No. 1 corner.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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.Jacob Herlin · Depth Chart Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. They also expect Cleveland to post a fourth straight top-10 fantasy defense result, and predicts Jalon Daniels starts another week for Tampa Bay while J.J. McCarthy takes over as the Giants' starter.Jordan Dajani · Depth Chart Calls · Drew Kendall · Miss 0
Dajani expects Cam Jurgens to move back to center as the Ravens' starter after the trade, and projects a rebuilt Eagles offensive line for Week 5 with Jordan Mailata, Willie Lampkin, Drew Kendall, Tyler Steen and Markel Bell starting from left tackle to right tackle.Donnie Druin · Depth Chart Calls · Jacoby Brissett · Hit 100
Druin writes that despite the 1-3 start and a three-interception game, Jacoby Brissett will stay Arizona's starting quarterback heading into the Week 5 game against Detroit, with Gardner Minshew and rookie Carson Beck remaining behind them.