# Chris Roling: After the Chargers' preseason opener, Roling projects Kayode Awosika as the Week 1 starting left guard with rookie Jake Slaughter backing them up and Branson Taylor as the backup swing tackle, expects Derius Davis to hold the return job, sees Brenen Thompson as a roster lock, and pegs Amar Johnson as the leader for the fourth running back spot behind Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal. **Claimed:** Aug 15, 2026 **Pundit:** Chris Roling — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/chris-roling **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/chargers/onsi/chargers-preseason-win-texans-biggest-questions 8 checkable claims — 7 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 1 of 8 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls. Of the 5 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 3. > Taylor winding up as the backup swing tackle to push Trey Pipkins while Slaughter backs up Awosika at left guard might be the play by Week 1. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Brenen Thompson to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Brenen Thompson, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Omarion Hampton to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jake Slaughter to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jake Slaughter, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Derius Davis to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Derius Davis, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Branson Taylor to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Branson Taylor, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kimani Vidal to be 3rd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Amar Johnson to be 4th on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Amar Johnson, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kayode Awosika to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kayode Awosika, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Brenen Thompson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brenen-thompson - Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chargers - Omarion Hampton — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/omarion-hampton - Jake Slaughter — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jake-slaughter - Derius Davis — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/derius-davis - Branson Taylor — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/branson-taylor - Kimani Vidal — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kimani-vidal - Amar Johnson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/amar-johnson - Kayode Awosika — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kayode-awosika ## What others said about the same people - Nate Gosney on Daiyan Henley: After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/60272861-4ad0-4749-b36a-dcdf09b9213f (scored 0) - Tyler Sullivan on Los Angeles Chargers: Sullivan flags five Week 9 underdogs they expect to pull upsets: the Packers at New England, the Vikings over Buffalo, the winless Chargers over Houston, the Panthers over Denver, and the Falcons over Cincinnati in Madrid. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b01bc807-6ff9-460f-8ab3-c7506b54effb (scored 0) - Kevin Wildes on Los Angeles Chargers: Wildes used their upset alert on the winless Chargers to beat the Rams. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4a6e4641-36d3-4a34-9929-9d1fdab93cbb (scored 0) - Greg Auman on Los Angeles Chargers: Auman predicts an all-Los Angeles Super Bowl with the Chargers beating the Rams 24-21. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b529264d-fbdd-4b2c-88aa-4c15848659a6 (scored 21.43) - Nick Wright on Los Angeles Chargers: Nick Wright ran through their projected 2025 records for all 16 AFC teams, calling Baltimore a 13-win regular-season juggernaut, Houston a 12-win team with the league's best defense, and going under on the Jets, Bengals, Steelers and Chargers; they also picked the Chiefs' game-by-game schedule to 12-5 and said Buffalo wins the AFC East. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d726dad7-b84e-421c-8274-380142c4ff2e (scored 0) - Eric Mangini on Los Angeles Chargers: Mangini took the Titans to upset the Texans, and in the chips segment backed the Chargers to upset Denver, the Patriots over the Raiders, and the Rams over the Bills. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/af6364dd-ba73-40cb-95fa-a9fa3ddf962b (scored 0) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Jeremy Brener on Drew Lock: Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7eb2d245-63d0-4be0-80ba-3f60197e2b16 (scored 100) - Jeremy Brener on Jalen Milroe: Brener suggests Seattle may turn to rookie-contract quarterback Jalen Milroe for their first career start in Week 9 against the Cardinals, with Sam Darnold ruled out and Drew Lock dealing with an elbow injury. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/42d1bd81-5e19-456e-9f68-b3b135170ec0 (scored 0) - Michael Moore on Shedeur Sanders: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e26319a3-10aa-49a6-a24d-a257521363f0 (scored 100) - Zachary Pereles on Shedeur Sanders: Pereles writes that if Deshaun Watson can't clear concussion protocol in time, the Browns would likely turn to second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders to start Week 9 against the Saints. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6dad75dd-1818-4a6a-91ea-832f491c2530 (scored 100) - Nic Bodiford on Joe Fagnano: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a13b9f29-bb76-4c56-b226-aca74b21f5b7 (scored 100) - Garrett Podell on Carson Beck: Podell argues the Cardinals have maxed out with Jacoby Brissett and that rookie Carson Beck should be ramped up to replace them as starter, targeting Week 8 at Dallas for Beck's regular-season debut. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2f499498-ebbe-41f8-8ea3-41fe96f79432 (scored 0) --- 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=chris-roling