Noah Compton· Aug 16, 2026
After watching the Colts' eleventh training camp practice, Compton says rookie linebacker CJ Allen is still expected to start the regular-season opener, identifies Alec Pierce as the team's top receiver and Cam Taylor-Britt as the first cornerback behind the starting trio, and declares the kicking job Blake Grupe's to lose.
“At this point, it's Grupe's job to lose.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
4 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 4 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Alec Pierce · 2026 season10 calls from 10 pundits between 1 and 4. Noah Compton 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
The game in this take
- Ravens at Colts 24 calls
4 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 CallsC.J. AllenIndianapolis ColtsAug 16, 2026
C.J. Allen to be 1st on the depth chart
“The rookie linebacker is still expected to start in Week 1's regular-season opener against the Baltimore Ravens”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- IND
- week:
- 1
- skill:
- -200
- player:
- C.J. Allen
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he starts
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- reported:
- he did not play that week
- settled by:
- weekly snap counts (he took no snap in the game)
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- Depth Chart CallsBlake GrupeIndianapolis ColtsAug 16, 2026
Blake Grupe to be 1st on the depth chart
“Blake Grupe continues to separate in practice... At this point, it's Grupe's job to lose.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Cam Taylor-Britt to be 4th on the depth chart
“Veteran newcomer Cam Taylor-Britt has proven to be the next man up outside of the Colts' starting trio of Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward Sr., and Justin Walley”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsAlec PierceIndianapolis ColtsAug 16, 2026
Alec Pierce to be 1st on the depth chart
“Alec Pierce : Indy's WR1 put on cleats and was a minimal participant for the first time this offseason”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Tyler SullivanScore Predictions · Indianapolis ColtsHit · 98Sullivan 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.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Laquon TreadwellHit · 100PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a large number of depth-chart, role and fantasy-value calls across the league, including Chig Okonkwo as a top sleeper tight end, Tre Tucker as the Raiders' top receiver, and various backfield hierarchies.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Laquon TreadwellHit · 100PFF's fantasy football preseason recap projects depth-chart outcomes, roster spots and fantasy value for numerous players across several preseason games, including Chig Okonkwo's expanded role in Washington, Ja'Kobi Lane as Baltimore's WR3, Malachi Fields winning the Giants' starting X job, and Zachariah Branch being a fantasy bust relative to his late-round cost.
- Andrew MooreRoster Spot Calls · Anthony RichardsonHit · 100Moore expects Anthony Richardson Sr. to make the Colts' 53-man roster and win the QB2 job over Riley Leonard, and believes Spencer Shrader should beat out Blake Grupe for the kicking job; he also sees UDFA cornerback Kenneth Harris as having an outside shot at the roster.
- Carter BahnsRoster Spot Calls · Jerry TilleryMiss · 0A CBS Sports piece names 20 notable veterans it considers at risk of being cut before the 53-man roster deadline, with several pegged for the practice squad or outright release, and also sketches a few depth-chart pecking orders (Titans QBs, Panthers tight ends, Texans receivers, Eagles backfield).
- Jason FitzRoster Spot Calls · Anthony RichardsonMiss · 0Fitz predicts Anthony Richardson will be released rather than traded by the Colts.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- 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.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Hit · 100Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Aaron JonesHit · 100In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco.
- Matt SeveranceDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter.