Pete MartuneacAug 11, 2026
Previewing the Bears' preseason opener against Cleveland, Martuneac names four players who need strong showings and describes the linebacker pecking order, saying TJ Edwards and Devin Bush will start at linebacker and that rookie Dillon Thieneman has been thrust into a starting safety role.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Pete Martuneac said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromTJ Edwards returns for his fourth season in Chicago, where he'll be starting alongside free agency acquisition and former first-round pick Devin Bush.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- 4 Chicago Bears Who Need a Strong Debut in Preseason Week 1 vs Browns
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Devin Bush to be 1st on the depth chart“where he'll be starting alongside free agency acquisition and former first-round pick Devin Bush”
- 2Dillon Thieneman to be 1st on the depth chart“It's totally normal for rookie safeties who are immediately thrust into starting roles to struggle in August.”
- 3T.J. Edwards to be 1st on the depth chart“TJ Edwards returns for his fourth season in Chicago, where he'll be starting alongside free agency acquisition and former first-round pick Devin Bush.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devin Bush to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Dillon Thieneman to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| T.J. Edwards to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 3 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
3 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
Dillon Thieneman · 2026 season9 calls from 5 pundits between 1 and 1. Pete Martuneac said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
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.
1Depth Chart CallsDevin BushChicago Bears
Devin Bush to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsDillon ThienemanChicago Bears
Dillon Thieneman to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsT.J. EdwardsChicago Bears
T.J. Edwards to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
John Middlekauff · Draft Bust Calls · Caleb Williams · Miss 0
Middlekauff expects either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to win this year's MVP, calling them the two best players in the league. They are pessimistic on the Bears, forecasting six or seven wins and saying they'd bet Caleb Williams doesn't work out as a franchise quarterback. They also see Oklahoma's John Mattier as a first-round pick who'll be in the Heisman mix.Bryan DeArdo · Score Predictions · Chicago Bears · Hit 98
DeArdo picks the Bears to beat the Buccaneers on Sunday night in a defensive game, predicting a 20-16 final score.Danny Parkins · Game Outcome Picks · Chicago Bears · Hit 100
Parkins named the seven AFC teams they believe are already set as the playoff field, expects Chicago, Buffalo and Kansas City to win this week, took Green Bay over New England and Atlanta over Cincinnati outright, and kept Bills–Bears as their Super Bowl matchup with the Giants still winning the NFC East.“Stanford Steve” Coughlin · Game Outcome Picks · Chicago Bears · Hit 100
Stanford Steve said the Bears would beat the Buccaneers on Sunday night, and called a player they referred to as "Yakis" their Rookie of the Year.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Chicago Bears · Hit 98
Simms gave a predicted final score for every Week 9 game, picking the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Lions, Giants, Rams, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks, Texans, Bears and Bills, and also said they wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
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.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
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.