Thomas Martinez· Aug 20, 2026
Martinez writes that with Tyler Biadasz injured, rookie Jake Slaughter becomes the Chargers' starting center and undrafted rookie Jacob Spomer moves up to backup center. He also expects Deane Leonard to start at cornerback opposite Cam Hart against the 49ers.
“He, in all likelihood, will be starting opposite Cam Hart against the 49ers Thursday night”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
3 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
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 2 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
Jake Slaughter · 2026 season18 calls from 16 pundits between 1 and 2. Thomas Martinez 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.
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Who this take is about
3 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.
Deane Leonard to be 1st on the depth chart
“He, in all likelihood, will be starting opposite Cam Hart against the 49ers Thursday night”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jake Slaughter to be 1st on the depth chart
“Jake Slaughter, new starting center”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jacob Spomer to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Jacob Spomer, newly elevated backup center ... now is elevated to the backup center behind Slaughter.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Carter BahnsRoster Spot Calls · Trevor PenningMiss · 0A CBS Sports piece names 20 notable veterans it considers at risk of being cut before the 53-man roster deadline, with several pegged for the practice squad or outright release, and also sketches a few depth-chart pecking orders (Titans QBs, Panthers tight ends, Texans receivers, Eagles backfield).
- Daniel WadeRoster Spot Calls · Derius DavisHit · 100Wade expects tight end Charlie Kohler (Kolar) to easily double his career reception total of 10 in the Chargers' offense, and believes wide receiver Darius Davis is essentially assured of a roster spot while KOS has played his way into being un-releasable.
- Chris RolingRoster Spot Calls · Brenen ThompsonHit · 100After 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.
- Nate GosneyRoster Spot Calls · Kendall WilliamsonHit · 100Gosney expects Kendall Williamson to remain with the Chargers in some capacity in 2026 — either on the 53-man roster or elsewhere on the team — despite the drafting of Genesis Smith making a roster spot harder to win.
- Shanna McCarristonRoster Spot Calls · Deane LeonardHit · 100A CBS Sports Week 1 preseason preview notes expectations that four Chargers cornerbacks will make the roster and that Raiders veteran Kirk Cousins will open the season as the starting quarterback ahead of No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
- David DroegemeierRoster Spot Calls · Trey PipkinsHit · 100Drogemeyer buys Omarion Hampton as a top-five rusher and the Chargers having one of the league's best running games, predicts Brennan Thompson will score five touchdowns with three going 40-plus yards, and sells the idea that Trey Pipkins gets cut or that the Chargers sign Zeitler or Bitonio before camp.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Aaron JonesHit · 100In 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.
- Matt SeveranceDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter.
- Bradley LockerDepth Chart Calls · Carson WentzHit · 100PFF's unsigned adjusted power rankings after Week 1 of the 2026 season place the Bills first, the Rams second and the Dolphins last, with notes on quarterback situations in Seattle, Minnesota and Cleveland.