Vito ChircoAug 22, 2026
Chirco predicts Tate Ratledge ends up starting at right guard rather than center, that veteran Josh Dobbs will win the Lions' backup quarterback job with Luke Altmyer landing on the practice squad, that Roger McCreary holds off Keith Abney II for the nickel job, and that Rock Ya-Sin starts opposite D.J. Reed as the No. 2 cornerback.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Vito Chirco said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromBecause of such, I would presently pencil in Ya-Sin as the starter opposite Reed.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Key Undecided Detroit Lions Position Battles Ahead of Commanders Game
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Joshua Dobbs to be 2nd on the depth chart“And while Dobbs with his plethora of experience is the presumed favorite... And I believe with enough reps, he will prove just that.”
- 2Luke Altmyer to land on the practice squad“As for Altmyer, I believe the Lions will end up carrying him on their practice squad to begin the season.”
- 3Rock Ya-Sin to be 2nd on the depth chart“Because of such, I would presently pencil in Ya-Sin as the starter opposite Reed.”
- 4Roger McCreary to be 1st on the depth chart“Although McCreary has struggled thus far in camp, I believe he's still the favorite to claim the job because of his prior NFL experience.”
- 5Tate Ratledge to be 1st on the depth chart“Guard Tate Ratledge could also be in the mix, but it's much more likely he ends up the team's starter at right guard.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua Dobbs to be 2nd on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Luke Altmyer to land on the practice squad2 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Rock Ya-Sin to be 2nd on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Roger McCreary to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Tate Ratledge to be 1st on the depth chart5 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 5 calls · 5 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
5 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 2.
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
Rock Ya-Sin · 2026 season8 calls from 7 pundits between 1 and 3. Vito Chirco said 2. 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 CallsJoshua DobbsDetroit Lions
Joshua Dobbs to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Roster Spot CallsLuke AltmyerDetroit Lions
Luke Altmyer to land on the practice squad
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsRock Ya-SinDetroit Lions
Rock Ya-Sin to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsRoger McCrearyDetroit Lions
Roger McCreary to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Depth Chart CallsTate RatledgeDetroit Lions
Tate Ratledge 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
Christian Booher · Roster Spot Calls · Anthony Lucas · Miss 0
Booher previews the Lions' Week 9 trip to Miami, predicting Derrick Barnes takes over as the green-dot linebacker in Jack Campbell's absence, Juice Scruggs starts at center, and boldly forecasting Detroit's first defensive touchdown of the season on an Aidan Hutchinson strip-sack recovered and returned by Barnes.Evan “Foxy” Fox · Score Predictions · Detroit Lions · Close 67
Foxy predicted a blowout Lions win over the Dolphins by a score of 45-21.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Detroit Lions · Hit 100
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.Nick Wright · Game Outcome Picks · Detroit Lions · Hit 100
Wright made several outright game calls for Week 9 alongside their spread picks: Kansas City beating the Jets 31-20, Detroit winning at Miami, New England edging Green Bay by a field goal or so, Carolina winning outright over Denver, and Houston blowing out the Chargers 27-12.Richard Sherman · Score Predictions · Detroit Lions · Hit 81
Sherman ranked the 49ers first in their Week 9 top five ahead of Buffalo, Chicago, Jacksonville and Denver, picked every Week 9 game with scores, and gave midseason award picks headlined by Brock Purdy for MVP and Kyle Shanahan for Coach of the Year.
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.