# Thomas Martinez: Martinez expects the Chargers to place Charlie Kolar and David Njoku on injured reserve, to fill an opened roster spot by either re-signing Gary Jennings or signing Marquez Valdez-Scantling, and says Trevor Penning will start at one of the guard spots against Buffalo. **Claimed:** Sep 23, 2026 **Pundit:** Thomas Martinez — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/thomas-martinez **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/chargers/onsi/chargers-mailbag-potential-moves-justin-herbert-footwork-offensive-identity 5 checkable claims — 2 roster spot calls, 2 trade and signing calls and 1 depth chart call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. > More than likely they will re-sign Jennings or will sign Marquez Valdez-Scantling to the 53-man roster. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Gary Jennings to move to Los Angeles Chargers** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Gary Jennings, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **David Njoku to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: David Njoku, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Charlie Kolar to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Charlie Kolar, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Trevor Penning to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Trevor Penning, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Marquez Valdes-Scantling to move to Los Angeles Rams** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Gary Jennings — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/gary-jennings - Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chargers - David Njoku — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/david-njoku - Charlie Kolar — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/charlie-kolar - Trevor Penning — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/trevor-penning - Marquez Valdes-Scantling — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/marquez-valdes-scantling - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams ## What others said about the same people - Connor Rogers on Los Angeles Rams: Rogers made his own Week 2 calls, taking the Packers, Eagles (by at least 10), Panthers (by at least a field goal), Cowboys (by at least six), Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also noted Baltimore was his Super Bowl pick and said it wouldn't shock him if Jacksonville hosted the AFC Championship Game. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0c2a0048-cb74-4da9-8ef4-695cc6571cdf (scored 100) - Chris Simms on Los Angeles Rams: Simms went through every Week 2 game with predicted final scores, picking the Texans, Bears, Steelers (as an upset), Packers, Ravens, Eagles, Buccaneers, Panthers, Jaguars, Seahawks, Cowboys, 49ers, Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also reiterated that Denver was his preseason Super Bowl pick while predicting the Broncos would fall to 0-2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/32db5f5e-13da-47e3-b280-2aa9a80d172b (scored 57.14) - Chris Long on Los Angeles Rams: Previewing Week 2, Long called New England a spot to bounce back against Pittsburgh, projected a 27-14 Patriots win, saw Eagles-Titans as a 23-10 grinder, liked the Rams' spot Monday night against the Giants, and wrote down a Bills 31, Lions 23 final for the Thursday nighter. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ab903e00-9f1b-4862-91a6-96343679649c (scored 100) - Chris Long on Los Angeles Rams: Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3df9ea25-e57f-4fd7-b20c-c910a1c3633a (scored 0) - Sam Monson on Los Angeles Chargers: Monson picked the Chargers to beat the Bills outright (jokingly crediting Buffalo's gray 'Nickel City' jerseys), took the Vikings to win outright in Tampa, and said Seattle would destroy Washington. He also reiterated his Super Bowl pick of Denver over the Rams, called the Dolphins destined for the No. 1 overall pick, and said the Saints are a worst-to-first candidate in the NFC South. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0b810ffd-fd93-4ea2-a208-b1353dea5fb0 (scored 0) - Matt Harmon on Los Angeles Rams: Harmon picked the Bengals to beat the Texans in Week 2, expecting Nico Collins to miss the game with a hamstring injury, and also predicted the Titans would be shut out by the Eagles. He took the Rams over the Giants, the Bears over the Vikings, and the Jaguars at Denver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/21a71025-ab65-4716-ac2c-e77ad5ce3348 (scored 100) ## More trade and signing calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Fox Sports on Austin Ekeler: The piece reports, citing ESPN, that Carolina is expected to sign veteran running back Austin Ekeler with Jonathon Brooks sidelined. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a3aa7c15-e643-4c03-85d9-10aef8b4085a (scored 0) - Steve Kubitza on Za'Darius Smith: Kubitza suggests that Kevin Stefanski's Falcons may lure veteran pass rusher Za'Darius Smith away from Cleveland, signing him in Atlanta instead of the Browns. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/54fca826-8644-4e76-bc3f-5d8d44bcca23 (scored 100) - Mary Kay Cabot on Za'Darius Smith: Cabot reported that Za'Darius Smith is expected to sign with the Browns, possibly as early as Sunday, after working out for the team. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3eb50e55-cb33-43c3-a427-d47904beb7bb (scored 0) - Brandon Carney on Austin Ekeler: Carney drafted a team of rookies he expects to make an immediate fantasy impact (headlined by Karnell Tate and Makai Lemon), predicted landing spots for the remaining big-name free agents, and gave way-too-early division winners, wild cards and award picks — Patriots, Chargers, Bengals, Jaguars, Eagles, Rams, Vikings and Saints as division champs with Joe Burrow as MVP. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c4d477da-4fb8-4a25-a904-c5057a249a70 (scored 0) - Adam Carlson on J.J. McCarthy: Carlson names three Vikings he expects could be traded before the end of September: quarterback J.J. McCarthy, wide receiver Jordan Addison and linebacker Ivan Pace. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/65e3f9cf-c441-42a2-baaf-7cd3dbebafad (scored 100) - Greg Auman on J.J. McCarthy: Auman argues no quarterback is likely to replicate Sam Darnold's turnaround this season, but names five candidates. He expects Miami to hold a very high pick in the 2027 draft, and thinks J.J. McCarthy will eventually be traded for a late-round pick or cut by the Vikings. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9b8eb78e-ddfa-4274-ac8f-17b069e6b87f (scored 100) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=thomas-martinez