Thomas Martinez· Sep 2, 2026
Martinez writes that with Tyler Biadasz suffering a season-ending injury, rookie Jake Slaughter is pushed into the Chargers' starting offensive line, and that the line will lean on McDaniel's system with eleven linemen kept on the 53.
“Unfortunately, in true Chargers fashion, the prized free agent acquisition of the offseason, Tyler Biadasz, has gone down with a season-ending injury forcing rookie Jake Slaughter into the starting lineup.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.
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Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
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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
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Jake Slaughter to be 1st on the depth chart
“the prized free agent acquisition of the offseason, Tyler Biadasz, has gone down with a season-ending injury forcing rookie Jake Slaughter into the starting lineup”
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.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Hit · 100Fox 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.
- 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.