Zach Roberts· Aug 28, 2026
Previewing the Panthers' preseason finale, Roberts predicts which receivers make the 53-man roster (McMillan, Coker, Legette and Tremayne easily; Metchie possibly cut), expects AJ Dillon to make the roster, doubts both Aaron Hall and Elijah Garcia stick, and suggests Ja'Tavion Sanders could be traded.
“John Metchie may be the odd man out, but Ja'seem Reed needs a good showing after getting hurt, too.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
8 checkable claims — 8 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
7 of 8 have settled so far, averaging 85.7 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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Who this take is about
8 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.
Princely Umanmielen to make the roster
“He's in no danger of being cut, but the second-year edge could force the Panthers to make a tough decision”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- CAR
- skill:
- -200
- player:
- Princely Umanmielen
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he does not make the 53
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Roster Spot CallsJalen CokerCarolina PanthersAug 28, 2026
Jalen Coker to make the roster
“We expect Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, and Brycen Tremayne to make it easily.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- CAR
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Jalen Coker
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
Brycen Tremayne to make the roster
“We expect Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, and Brycen Tremayne to make it easily.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- CAR
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Brycen Tremayne
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Roster Spot CallsXavier LegetteCarolina PanthersAug 28, 2026
Xavier Legette to make the roster
“We expect Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, and Brycen Tremayne to make it easily.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- CAR
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Xavier Legette
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
Tetairoa McMillan to make the roster
“We expect Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, and Brycen Tremayne to make it easily.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- CAR
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Tetairoa McMillan
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Roster Spot CallsAJ DillonCarolina PanthersAug 28, 2026
AJ Dillon to make the roster
“We expect AJ Dillon to make the roster”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- CAR
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- AJ Dillon
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
John Metchie III to make the roster
“It is unlikely all three of these wideouts make the team. John Metchie may be the odd man out”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- CAR
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- John Metchie III
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Roster Spot CallsJimmy Horn Jr.Carolina PanthersAug 28, 2026
Jimmy Horn Jr. to make the roster
“Jimmy Horn seems the safest, but things can change quickly.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Carolina PanthersClose · 48Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Carolina PanthersMiss · 0Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal.
- Richard ShermanScore Predictions · Carolina PanthersClose · 48Sherman picked winners and several exact scores across the Week 3 slate, favoring Seattle, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Detroit, Green Bay, Carolina, New Orleans, Baltimore, the Rams, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Kansas City, Minnesota, the Giants, Jacksonville and Houston, and named Kenneth Walker his MVP.
- Colin CowherdGame Outcome Picks · Carolina PanthersMiss · 0The co-host (identified only as "Mitchell") made his own Week 3 picks, including blowout wins for Seattle and San Francisco, Cincinnati 27-17, Detroit 37-13, Denver 24-21 over the Rams, and predicted Jonah Coleman takes over the Broncos' running back role.
- Tyler SullivanScore Predictions · Carolina PanthersClose · 50Sullivan projects final scores for every Week 3 game, including a Bills blowout of the reeling Chargers, a Chiefs rout in Miami, a Seahawks win over a Mariota-led Washington, and the Saints beating the Raiders in their home opener. He also expects Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart all to be sidelined in Week 3, with Marcus Mariota starting for Washington.
- John BreechScore Predictions · Carolina PanthersClose · 50Breech predicts the Dolphins will miss the playoffs and may go winless, and picks every Week 3 game with scores, including Texans over Colts, a Buccaneers upset of Minnesota, Ravens over Cowboys in Brazil, Saints over Raiders and Broncos over Rams.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Zach ErtzMiss · 0Kerr expects Zach Ertz to be elevated from the practice squad and play in the Eagles' Week 3 Monday night game against the Bears, and to serve as Philadelphia's clear TE1 with Dallas Goedert out.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Chance CampbellHit · 100Kerr ranks the Eagles' eight undrafted free agents by their chances of making the initial 53-man roster, with Kapena Gushiken the most likely and predicts at least one UDFA makes the 53. He also forecasts practice squad spots for Zion Wilson, Deontae Lawson and Maximus Pulley, and a release for long snapper Rocco Underwood.
- Carter BahnsRoster Spot Calls · Jeshaun JonesMiss · 0A CBS Sports piece expects suspended Vikings receiver Jeshaun Jones to lose his roster battle and be cut by the Aug. 30 deadline, given Minnesota's established receiver group.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Chance CampbellHit · 100Kerr's third Eagles 53-man roster projection names the players he expects to make the team at each position, with Cole Payton, Elijah Moore, Johnny Wilson, Gabe Hall and Rocco Underwood left off; he also predicts Underwood is exposed to waivers and returns to the practice squad, Deontae Lawson lands on the practice squad, and Eli Stowers is the TE3.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Chance CampbellHit · 100Kerr's updated 53-man roster projection for the Eagles after eight training camp practices, naming which players make the team at each position plus depth-chart placements like Wicks as WR2, Mundt as TE2, Kendall as third guard, Bell as third tackle, and Epps/Carter battling to start at safety.
- Ralph VentreRoster Spot Calls · Christian BenfordMiss · 0Ventre expects Christian Benford's toe injury to sideline him for at least the Week 4 game against New England, and believes the Bills will have to add a cornerback to the 53-man roster this week — likely by moving Benford to injured reserve — with practice squad rookie Kani Walker the most likely player elevated.