Chad Jensen#81 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 16, 2026
Jensen predicts Jarrett Stidham will hold the QB2 job in Denver while Sam Ehlinger stays third on the depth chart, and expects Ehlinger to be cut and hit the waiver wire at the end of the month since the Broncos won't carry three quarterbacks.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Chad Jensen said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromBarring an epic performance in preseason Games 2 and 3, Ehlinger will remain third in Denver's quarterback hierarchy.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Payton's Jarrett Stidham Verdict Speaks Volumes About Broncos' QB2 Battle
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 16
- GradedSep 25
- 1Sam Ehlinger to make the roster“I'm doubtful the Broncos will be willing to carry three quarterbacks on the roster out of camp, which means Ehlinger is likely to hit the waiver wire at the end of the month.”
- 2Jarrett Stidham to be 2nd on the depth chart“after a long offseason of competing with Ehlinger to retain his long-held QB2 job, it really does feel like Stidham is in the driver's seat”
- 3Sam Ehlinger to be 3rd on the depth chart“Barring an epic performance in preseason Games 2 and 3, Ehlinger will remain third in Denver's quarterback hierarchy.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Ehlinger to make the roster1 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Jarrett Stidham to be 2nd on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Sam Ehlinger to be 3rd on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 1 hit · 2 waiting | 100 | 100 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive3 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 100 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 above the room on 1 and below it on 1.
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.
1Roster Spot CallsSam EhlingerDenver Broncos
Sam Ehlinger to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 100100this call−100a naive guess=0better than naive×2difficulty=0skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- DEN
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Sam Ehlinger
- 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
2Depth Chart CallsJarrett StidhamDenver Broncos
Jarrett Stidham to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsSam EhlingerDenver Broncos
Sam Ehlinger to be 3rd 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
Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman expects Sean Fresch Jr. to clear waivers and return to the Broncos' practice squad, sees Riley Moss back from concussion for the Week 11 game at Las Vegas, and projects newly acquired Daiyan Henley to begin as the third inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before likely moving into a starting role.Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman writes that Riley Moss may sit out the preseason finale against Minnesota but should be available for the Week 1 opener at Kansas City; they also suggest undrafted corners Sean Fresch Jr. and Brent Austin are being evaluated for practice squad spots.Zack Kelberman · Game Outcome Picks · Denver Broncos · Hit 100
Kelberman predicts the Broncos will comfortably beat the Panthers in Week 9, with Denver's offensive line handling Carolina's weak pass rush.Connor Rogers · Game Outcome Picks · Denver Broncos · Hit 100
Rogers picked straight-up winners in every Week 9 game, agreeing with Simms on all of them, and gave a 24-20 Bills score over the Vikings on Monday night.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Denver Broncos · Hit 98
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.
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.