Gene Chamberlain· Aug 9, 2026
Chamberlain reads the Bears' practice usage as evidence rookie Zavion Thomas has moved ahead of Jahdae Walker in the receiver rotation, working as part of the standard three-receiver group with Kalif Raymond and Rome Odunze.
“It says what they think about Thomas already if they're moving him in ahead of Walker, a player whose skills they trumpeted in the past.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
3 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls — 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.
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 below the rest of the room on every one.
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Who this take is about
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.
- Depth Chart CallsJahdae WalkerChicago BearsAug 9, 2026
Jahdae Walker to be 4th on the depth chart
“Walker hasn't become too antsy being behind a better group of receivers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsXavier WoodsChicago BearsAug 9, 2026
Xavier Woods to be 1st on the depth chart
“No doubt he'll be out there soon in the spot Lewis had been manning”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsZavion ThomasChicago BearsAug 9, 2026
Zavion Thomas to be 3rd on the depth chart
“The Bears immediately went not to using Walker with starters but to putting the rookie, Thomas, in along with Raymond and Odunze in a standard three-receiver personnel groupings. It says what they think about Thomas already if they're moving him in ahead of Walker”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Pete MartuneacGame Outcome Picks · Chicago BearsHit · 100Martuneac expects the Bears to beat the Jets comfortably in Week 4, with Tyson Bagent playing efficiently, Dillon Thieneman picking off Geno Smith twice, and Colston Loveland breaking out as a two-touchdown receiver.
- Pete MartuneacScore Predictions · Chicago BearsHit · 95Martuneac predicts the Bears beat the Jets 30-17 in Week 4, moving to 3-1, with Tyson Bagent starting and the offense scoring early and often.
- Gennaro FiliceScore Predictions · Chicago BearsHit · 90Picked winners and exact scores for every Week 4 game, including the Bills over a struggling Patriots offense, the Eagles over the Rams and the only Browns pick of the panel.
- Dan ParrScore Predictions · Chicago BearsHit · 83Picked winners and exact scores for every Week 4 game, taking the 49ers to move to 4-0 over Denver, the Saints at home on Monday night and the Steelers in Cleveland.
- Brooke CersosimoScore Predictions · Chicago BearsHit · 83Picked winners and exact scores for every Week 4 game, including the Bears over the Jets, the Cowboys in the Battle for Texas and an upset of the Chiefs by the undefeated Raiders.
- Seth WalderScore Predictions · Chicago BearsHit · 81Walder made a 'bold prediction' for each Week 4 game — including receiving and rushing yardage marks, sacks, an interception and a Dolphins upset — and picked final scores for all 15 games on the slate.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- 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.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Jonah ColemanMiss · 0In his Week 3 waiver column, Fitzmaurice makes several depth-chart calls around injuries: Jonah Coleman leading Denver's backfield, Marcus Mariota taking over in Washington, Michael Penix Jr. starting once healthy, and Malik Washington serving as Miami's top receiver, plus availability expectations for Detroit's injured safeties.