# Chris Roling: After the Chargers' preseason opener, Roling projects Kayode Awosika as the Week 1 starting left guard with rookie Jake Slaughter backing him 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 bet. 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 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 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 - **Jake Slaughter to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jake Slaughter, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Omarion Hampton to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Omarion Hampton, 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 - **Kimani Vidal to be 3rd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kimani Vidal, 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 - **Kayode Awosika to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kayode Awosika, 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 ## Who this take is about - Brenen Thompson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brenen-thompson - Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chargers - Jake Slaughter — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jake-slaughter - Omarion Hampton — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/omarion-hampton - Amar Johnson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/amar-johnson - Kimani Vidal — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kimani-vidal - Derius Davis — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/derius-davis - Kayode Awosika — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kayode-awosika - Branson Taylor — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/branson-taylor ## What others said about the same people - Connor Rogers on Los Angeles Chargers: Rogers made his own Week 2 calls, taking the Packers, Eagles (by at least 10), Panthers (by at least a field goal), Cowboys (by at least six), Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also noted Baltimore was his Super Bowl pick and said it wouldn't shock him if Jacksonville hosted the AFC Championship Game. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0c2a0048-cb74-4da9-8ef4-695cc6571cdf (scored 0) - Chris Simms on Los Angeles Chargers: Simms went through every Week 2 game with predicted final scores, picking the Texans, Bears, Steelers (as an upset), Packers, Ravens, Eagles, Buccaneers, Panthers, Jaguars, Seahawks, Cowboys, 49ers, Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also reiterated that Denver was his preseason Super Bowl pick while predicting the Broncos would fall to 0-2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/32db5f5e-13da-47e3-b280-2aa9a80d172b (scored 40.48) - Sam Monson on Los Angeles Chargers: Monson picked the Chargers to beat the Bills outright (jokingly crediting Buffalo's gray 'Nickel City' jerseys), took the Vikings to win outright in Tampa, and said Seattle would destroy Washington. He also reiterated his Super Bowl pick of Denver over the Rams, called the Dolphins destined for the No. 1 overall pick, and said the Saints are a worst-to-first candidate in the NFC South. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0b810ffd-fd93-4ea2-a208-b1353dea5fb0 (scored 0) - David Droegemeier on Mekhi Becton: Drogemeier says the Chargers cutting Mekhi Becton is a foregone conclusion, freeing nearly $9 million in cap space, and only a matter of when. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c5f92029-fa26-4c4f-9c27-ab127b7301a8 (scored 100) - Mina Kimes on Mekhi Becton: Kimes projects Washington receiver Denzel Boston as a second-half-of-the-first-round pick and expects the Chargers to move on from Mekhi Becton. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/313774ec-4795-434d-9f21-6ec534873000 (scored 100) - Eric Mangini on Los Angeles Chargers: In his taped upset alert, the coach took the winless Chargers to beat the undefeated Bills, citing Los Angeles' desperation and Buffalo's leaky defense. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c5e9288a-a752-4236-889e-edc171b86264 (scored 0) ## 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=chris-roling