Skip to main content
MissedTakes
Menu

Jay Morrison· Aug 14, 2026

Following the preseason opener against Detroit, Morrison updated his Cincinnati Bengals 53-man roster projection, naming starters and backups at every position group and identifying which players are on the bubble.

“In addition to defensive tackle, the outlook for a few other position groups have changed since the initial 53-man roster projection heading into camp”

published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →

53 checkable claims — 27 depth chart calls and 26 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 54 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

21 of 53 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 61.9 for a naive guess at the same calls.

Of the 8 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.

Where this call stands in the room

Chase Brown · 2026 season

5 calls from 4 pundits between 1 and 1. Jay Morrison said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet

Jay Morrison — 1the room — 5 calls from 4 punditsmedian 1

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.

Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →

Who this take is about

53 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.

  • Connor Lew to make the roster

    “Backups: Cody Ford, Connor Lew, Brian Parker II, Jalen Rivers”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    200
    player:
    Connor Lew
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • Landon Robinson to make the roster

    “Backups: Shemar Stewart, B.J. Hill, Cashius Howell, T.J. Slaton Jr., Kris Jenkins Jr., Landon Robinson”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    200
    player:
    Landon Robinson
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • Erick All to make the roster

    “Backups: Erick All Jr., Tanner Hudson, Jack Endries”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    200
    player:
    Erick All
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • Tahj Brooks to make the roster

    “Backups: Samaje Perine, Tahj Brooks ... Brooks played 41 percent of the special teams snaps, which is what should help him hold off Brightwell, Milton, Haynes and Bullock for the final spot.”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    0
    player:
    Tahj Brooks
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • Shemar Stewart to make the roster

    “Backups: Shemar Stewart, B.J. Hill, Cashius Howell, T.J. Slaton Jr., Kris Jenkins Jr., Landon Robinson”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    0
    player:
    Shemar Stewart
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • Samaje Perine to make the roster

    “Backups: Samaje Perine, Tahj Brooks”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    0
    player:
    Samaje Perine
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • Jalen Rivers to make the roster

    “Backups: Cody Ford, Connor Lew, Brian Parker II, Jalen Rivers”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    0
    player:
    Jalen Rivers
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • D.J. Ivey to make the roster

    “Backups: Tacario Davis, Ja’Sir Taylor, DJ Ivey IV”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    0
    player:
    D.J. Ivey
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • Kris Jenkins to make the roster

    “Backups: Shemar Stewart, B.J. Hill, Cashius Howell, T.J. Slaton Jr., Kris Jenkins Jr., Landon Robinson”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    0
    player:
    Kris Jenkins
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • Tanner Hudson to make the roster

    “Backups: Erick All Jr., Tanner Hudson, Jack Endries”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    0
    player:
    Tanner Hudson
    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:
    1
    weeks left when called:
    18
    first week on the53:
    1
    weeks on the practice squad:
    2

    Think this is wrong?

  • Tacario Davis to make the roster

    “Backups: Tacario Davis, Ja’Sir Taylor, DJ Ivey IV”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    200
    player:
    Tacario Davis
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • Oren Burks to make the roster

    “Backups: Oren Burks, Shaka Heyward, Joe Giles-Harris”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    0
    player:
    Oren Burks
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • Jack Endries to make the roster

    “Backups: Erick All Jr., Tanner Hudson, Jack Endries”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    200
    player:
    Jack Endries
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • B.J. Hill to make the roster

    “Backups: Shemar Stewart, B.J. Hill, Cashius Howell, T.J. Slaton Jr., Kris Jenkins Jr., Landon Robinson”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    0
    player:
    B.J. Hill
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • Cashius Howell to make the roster

    “Backups: Shemar Stewart, B.J. Hill, Cashius Howell, T.J. Slaton Jr., Kris Jenkins Jr., Landon Robinson”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    200
    player:
    Cashius Howell
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • Joe Giles-Harris to make the roster

    “Backups: Oren Burks, Shaka Heyward, Joe Giles-Harris”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    0
    player:
    Joe Giles-Harris
    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:
    2
    weeks left when called:
    18
    first week on the53:
    1
    weeks on the practice squad:
    1

    Think this is wrong?

  • Colbie Young to make the roster

    “Backups: Colbie Young, Mitch Tinsley, Dohnte Meyers”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    200
    player:
    Colbie Young
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • Tedarrell Slaton to make the roster

    “T.J. Slaton’s playing time against the Lions (six snaps) suggests he’s a roster lock as well despite the crowded position”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    0
    player:
    Tedarrell Slaton
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • Kyle Dugger to make the roster

    “Backups: Kyle Dugger, PJ Jules”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    0
    player:
    Kyle Dugger
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • Dohnte Meyers to make the roster

    “Backups: Colbie Young, Mitch Tinsley, Dohnte Meyers”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    200
    player:
    Dohnte Meyers
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • PJ Jules to make the roster

    “Backups: Kyle Dugger, PJ Jules”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CIN
    skill:
    0
    player:
    PJ Jules
    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

    Think this is wrong?

  • Bryan Cook to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Safety (4) Starters: Bryan Cook, Jordan Battle”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Chase Brown to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Running Back (3) Starter: Chase Brown”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Mitchell Tinsley to make the roster

    “Backups: Colbie Young, Mitch Tinsley, Dohnte Meyers”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Ja'Marr Chase to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Wide Receiver (6) Starters: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Jonathan Allen to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Defensive Line (10) Starters: Boye Mafe, Dexter Lawrence II, Jonathan Allen, Myles Murphy”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Demetrius Knight Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Linebacker (5) Starters: Demetrius Knight Jr., Barrett Carter”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Jordan Battle to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Safety (4) Starters: Bryan Cook, Jordan Battle”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • DJ Turner II to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Cornerback (6) Starters: DJ Turner II, Dax Hill, Jalen Davis”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • William Wagner to be 1st on the depth chart

    “William Wagner, long snapper”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Drew Sample to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Tight end (5) Starters: Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Joe Flacco to be 2nd on the depth chart

    “Backup: Joe Flacco”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Ja'Sir Taylor to make the roster

    “Backups: Tacario Davis, Ja’Sir Taylor, DJ Ivey IV”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Mike Gesicki to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Tight end (5) Starters: Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Daxton Hill to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Cornerback (6) Starters: DJ Turner II, Dax Hill, Jalen Davis”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Dylan Fairchild to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Offensive line (9) Starters: Orlando Brown Jr., Dylan Fairchild, Ted Karras, Dalton Risner, Amarius Mims”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Joe Burrow to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Quarterback (2) Starter: Joe Burrow”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Ted Karras to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Offensive line (9) Starters: Orlando Brown Jr., Dylan Fairchild, Ted Karras, Dalton Risner, Amarius Mims”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Dalton Risner to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Offensive line (9) Starters: Orlando Brown Jr., Dylan Fairchild, Ted Karras, Dalton Risner, Amarius Mims”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Orlando Brown to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Offensive line (9) Starters: Orlando Brown Jr., Dylan Fairchild, Ted Karras, Dalton Risner, Amarius Mims”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Tee Higgins to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Wide Receiver (6) Starters: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Brian Parker to make the roster

    “Backups: Cody Ford, Connor Lew, Brian Parker II, Jalen Rivers”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Jalen Davis to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Starters: DJ Turner II, Dax Hill, Jalen Davis ... Davis has the most tenuous starting job on the roster”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Evan McPherson to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Specialists (3) Evan McPherson, kicker”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Ryan Rehkow to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Ryan Rehkow, punter”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Shaka Heyward to make the roster

    “Backups: Oren Burks, Shaka Heyward, Joe Giles-Harris”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Amarius Mims to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Offensive line (9) Starters: Orlando Brown Jr., Dylan Fairchild, Ted Karras, Dalton Risner, Amarius Mims”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Barrett Carter to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Linebacker (5) Starters: Demetrius Knight Jr., Barrett Carter”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Andrei Iosivas to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Wide Receiver (6) Starters: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Myles Murphy to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Defensive Line (10) Starters: Boye Mafe, Dexter Lawrence II, Jonathan Allen, Myles Murphy”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Cody Ford to make the roster

    “Backups: Cody Ford, Connor Lew, Brian Parker II, Jalen Rivers”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Dexter Lawrence to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Defensive Line (10) Starters: Boye Mafe, Dexter Lawrence II, Jonathan Allen, Myles Murphy”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Boye Mafe to be 1st on the depth chart

    “Defensive Line (10) Starters: Boye Mafe, Dexter Lawrence II, Jonathan Allen, Myles Murphy”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

What others said about the same people

More depth chart calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

Discussed alongside these