Jeff Kerr· Aug 18, 2026
Assessing Eagles roster bubble battles after the preseason opener, Kerr says Dalton and McKee both deserve spots over Cole Payton, Darius Cooper will make the team, Kelee Ringo is essentially a lock, Joshua Weru likely won't make the 53, and Jose Ramirez has a better chance than Weru. He also puts Dalton as the QB2 and Shipley ahead in the RB3 race.
“Dalton and McKee deserve a roster spot over Payton.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
9 checkable claims — 6 roster spot calls and 3 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
2 of 9 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 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.
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Who this take is about
9 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.
- Roster Spot CallsKelee RingoPhiladelphia EaglesAug 18, 2026
Kelee Ringo to make the roster
“Ringo is a special teams standout, so he is basically a roster lock if he can provide competent cornerback play.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Kelee Ringo
- 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
Darius Cooper to make the roster
“He's a bubble player, but it would be shocking if he didn't make the team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Darius Cooper
- 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
- Depth Chart CallsAndy DaltonPhiladelphia EaglesAug 18, 2026
Andy Dalton to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Dalton is the QB2 based on when he entered the game and when he was taken out”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsAndy DaltonPhiladelphia EaglesAug 18, 2026
Andy Dalton to make the roster
“Dalton and McKee deserve a roster spot over Payton.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsUar BernardPhiladelphia EaglesAug 18, 2026
Uar Bernard to make the roster
“The Eagles are still likely to protect Bernard”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsWill ShipleyPhiladelphia EaglesAug 18, 2026
Will Shipley to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Advantage Shipley, who has gained ground in the RB3 battle.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJohn OjukwuPhiladelphia EaglesAug 18, 2026
John Ojukwu to be a starter
“John Ojukwu has jumped Williams in the pecking order at tackle”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsTy RobinsonPhiladelphia EaglesAug 18, 2026
Ty Robinson to make the roster
“Ty Robinson essentially played his way into the roster Saturday night”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsTanner McKeePhiladelphia EaglesAug 18, 2026
Tanner McKee to make the roster
“Dalton and McKee deserve a roster spot over Payton.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesMiss · 0Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesMiss · 0Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns.
- Matt HarmonScore Predictions · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 100Harmon 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.
- Ty SchmitGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesMiss · 0While taking the Bears to cover, he said he expects the Eagles to win Monday night in Chicago in a tight game.
- Darius ButlerGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesMiss · 0He trusts Jalen Hurts over the Bears' quarterback situation and picked Philadelphia to beat Chicago on Monday night.
- Jared DubinScore Predictions · Philadelphia EaglesMiss · 33Dubin picked the Eagles to win at Chicago 23-10 on Monday night.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Carter BahnsRoster Spot Calls · Jeshaun JonesMiss · 0A CBS Sports piece expects suspended Vikings receiver Jeshaun Jones to lose his roster battle and be cut by the Aug. 30 deadline, given Minnesota's established receiver group.
- Ralph VentreRoster Spot Calls · Christian BenfordMiss · 0Ventre expects Christian Benford's toe injury to sideline him for at least the Week 4 game against New England, and believes the Bills will have to add a cornerback to the 53-man roster this week — likely by moving Benford to injured reserve — with practice squad rookie Kani Walker the most likely player elevated.
- Thomas MartinezRoster Spot Calls · Patrick HerbertMiss · 0Martinez projects the Chargers' starting lineups on offense and defense for their Week 3 game at Buffalo, with injuries forcing several changes — Oronde Gadsden II at tight end, Trevor Penning at left guard, Jamaree Caldwell at defensive tackle and RJ Mickens at safety — while expecting Ladd McConkey to play and Marquez Valdez-Scantling to debut.
- Tyler SullivanRoster Spot Calls · Jake HaenerMiss · 0Sullivan expects the Giants, thin at quarterback after Jaxson Dart's season-ending knee injury, to elevate Jake Haener from the practice squad for Week 3.
- Ethan HurwitzRoster Spot Calls · Jeremiah Pharms Jr.Miss · 0Hurwitz writes that the elevations of Jeremiah Pharms Jr. and Mike Brown likely mean Leonard Taylor III stays a healthy scratch and Joshua Farmer could be one too for the Week 3 game at Jacksonville, and that both elevated players will revert to the practice squad after Sunday.
- Randy GurziRoster Spot Calls · Reddy StewardMiss · 0Gurzi predicts the Cowboys' 17-man practice squad, naming each player he expects Dallas to sign, including a surprise addition of released Giants tackle Evan Neal. He also predicts Jaydon Blue will be claimed off waivers by another team and that Sam Williams will land elsewhere.