# Thomas Martinez: 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. **Claimed:** Aug 20, 2026 **Pundit:** Thomas Martinez — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/thomas-martinez **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/chargers/onsi/chargers-49ers-preseason-preview-players-watch 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. > He, in all likelihood, will be starting opposite Cam Hart against the 49ers Thursday night *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Deane Leonard to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Deane Leonard, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jake Slaughter to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jake Slaughter, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jacob Spomer to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jacob Spomer, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Deane Leonard — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/deane-leonard - Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chargers - Jake Slaughter — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jake-slaughter - Jacob Spomer — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jacob-spomer ## What others said about the same people - Carter Bahns on Trevor Penning: A 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). — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/94f49c83-2307-4f25-b10c-b1cba9df5dbc (scored 0) - Daniel Wade on Derius Davis: Wade 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0f071c85-2927-421b-a072-2bbc110a57c4 (scored 100) - Chris Roling on Brenen Thompson: 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/e9fc2064-a215-4e72-ae36-801974a34baa (scored 100) - Nate Gosney on Kendall Williamson: Gosney 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6e2b2d65-fc86-4d87-b9b5-73e9b640a2d1 (scored 100) - Shanna McCarriston on Deane Leonard: A 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b2cfe46c-5e75-40f6-a5fa-8de2f8fcd750 (scored 100) - David Droegemeier on Trey Pipkins: Drogemeyer 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/34e5d90a-ac6e-49b1-beae-28df357804ea (scored 100) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - 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.thegoodapps.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.thegoodapps.co/opinions/31adc8bb-8f15-453f-bbcf-cab44e29b8b3 (scored 100) - Matt Severance on Deshaun Watson: The 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/944568ce-7205-409f-8354-a392016fd8bf (scored 100) - Rafael Zamorano on Deshaun Watson: Zamorano 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d7d7e0a2-61e0-4525-970b-b01a2356f11b (scored 100) - Rich Hribar on Tua Tagovailoa: Hribar 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/124ac755-a942-4382-8bad-177da7f8170d (scored 0) - Bradley Locker on Carson Wentz: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a3716f21-0488-4fc8-a414-c25c2d781a6e (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.thegoodapps.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.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=thomas-martinez