# Ethan Hurwitz: Previewing the Patriots' Week 1 roster, Hurwitz lays out the interior offensive line with Jared Wilson at center flanked by Alijah Vera-Tucker and Mike Onwenu, with Greg Van Roten as the top interior backup, names Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss the starting linebackers, and puts Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones atop the cornerback pecking order. **Claimed:** Sep 4, 2026 **Pundit:** Ethan Hurwitz — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/ethan-hurwitz **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/onsi/every-position-where-the-patriots-must-continue-to-look-for-help 9 checkable claims — 9 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. Of the 8 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 6. > There's a pecking order at the top of this, with Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones leading the way. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Greg Van Roten to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Greg Van Roten, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jared Wilson to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jared Wilson, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Carlton Davis III to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Carlton Davis III, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Alijah Vera-Tucker to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Alijah Vera-Tucker, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Mike Onwenu to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Mike Onwenu, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Robert Spillane to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Robert Spillane, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Marcus Jones to be 3rd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Marcus Jones, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Christian Gonzalez to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Christian Elliss to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Christian Elliss, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Greg Van Roten — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/greg-van-roten - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/patriots - Jared Wilson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jared-wilson - Carlton Davis III — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/carlton-davis-iii - Alijah Vera-Tucker — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/alijah-vera-tucker - Mike Onwenu — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/mike-onwenu - Robert Spillane — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/robert-spillane - Marcus Jones — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/marcus-jones - Christian Gonzalez — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/christian-gonzalez - Christian Elliss — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/christian-elliss ## What others said about the same people - Chris Long on New England Patriots: 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) - Nate Tice on New England Patriots: Tice picked the Bengals over the Texans in a low-scoring game, the Jaguars at Denver, the Bears over the Vikings, the Patriots over the Steelers and the Rams to edge the Giants, and his Hail Mary was the Cowboys scoring 40 on Washington. He also floated Abdul Carter as a possible All-Pro. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b6211c80-3d1c-46b8-8a0c-151fc0ba92de (scored 100) - Chris Broussard on New England Patriots: Broussard picked the Bills to beat the Chargers in a competitive, higher-scoring game, said the Chiefs will rout the Dolphins, and for upset alert parlayed the Patriots over the Jaguars and the Raiders over the Saints. He also restated his Cowboys-versus-Ravens Super Bowl matchup pick. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dee7585c-6da6-4afc-9954-ff32cf8de4e3 (scored 0) - Danny Parkins on New England Patriots: In the winners-only chips segment Parkins backed the Patriots over the Jaguars, the Bengals over the Steelers and the Ravens over the Cowboys in Brazil. He also said New England has a real shot at a top-10 defense and that Kayshon/Romeo Dobbs will be the Patriots' number one target. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/88f60b41-3824-4b00-b0f0-f434c55c539b (scored 0) - Mark Wahlberg on New England Patriots: Wahlberg went game-by-game through the Patriots' schedule and predicted a 14-3 season, with losses only at Buffalo, to the Lions in Germany, and at Kansas City. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/14761919-29fa-4eda-a3d4-ba0f76f399c2 (scored 0) - Nathan Jahnke on Efton Chism III: An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Garrett Podell on Case Keenum: Podell ranks all 32 current NFL starting quarterbacks entering Week 3 of the 2026 season, with Josh Allen first, Patrick Mahomes second and Case Keenum last. He also expects Kyler Murray and Michael Penix Jr. to return to action in Week 3 and Case Keenum to possibly start for the Bears. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0e92b59e-0dd1-43c3-80c1-6551a8b641ac (scored 100) - Fox Sports on Case Keenum: A roundup of NFC injury news expects Jameis Winston to start for the Giants in any games Jaxson Dart misses, and suggests third-stringer Case Keenum could end up starting for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3 with both Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent sidelined. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3aff6d9f-b997-480e-b323-740b6a4677ed (scored 100) - Fox Sports on Case Keenum: With Caleb Williams injured and Tyson Bagent in concussion protocol, third-string quarterback Case Keenum is expected to start for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7726bb2f-b9aa-4c35-aa7b-e0b49990e867 (scored 100) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Jonah Coleman: In 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2cbd48f6-15ea-4aa5-84bc-bcc50d94d09a (scored 0) - Fox Sports on Michael Penix Jr.: Fox 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a90e69a8-707f-43e9-a63e-cdb3e7bd0829 (scored 100) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Aaron Jones: In 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/31adc8bb-8f15-453f-bbcf-cab44e29b8b3 (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=ethan-hurwitz