Mike MoraitisAug 14, 2026
Previewing the Bears' first 2026 preseason game, Moraitis says first-round pick Dillon Thieneman is set to start at safety as a rookie and that sixth-rounder Jordan van den Berg's rise in camp means they will make the roster.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Mike Moraitis said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromvan den Berg has even gotten looks with the ones, which is a good sign he's going to make the roster.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Bears Rookies Who Will Stand Out the Most in Preseason Action vs. Browns
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 14
- GradedSep 25
- 1Jordan van den Berg to make the roster“van den Berg has even gotten looks with the ones, which is a good sign he's going to make the roster.”
- 2Dillon Thieneman to be 1st on the depth chart“Thieneman is slated to start at safety in his first season in the NFL”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan van den Berg to make the roster1 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 0 | +200 | |
| Dillon Thieneman to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 2 calls · 1 hit · 1 waiting | 100 | 0 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive2 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call 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 2 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
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.
Where this call stands in the room
Dillon Thieneman · 2026 season7 calls from 5 pundits between 1 and 1. Mike Moraitis 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.
1Roster Spot CallsJordan van den BergChicago Bears
Jordan van den Berg to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×2difficulty=+200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- CHI
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Jordan van den Berg
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- 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 CallsDillon ThienemanChicago Bears
Dillon Thieneman to be 1st 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
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More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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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.