Deshaun Watson’s Return to the Field in Preseason Action
You know that age-old joke about running from a bear? It’s not about being the fastest; it’s about being faster than your friends. That certainly seemed to hold true for Deshaun Watson, who took the field for his first NFL game since 2024 last Saturday.
This outing was a significant moment for Watson. He participated in a preseason matchup against the Chicago Bears and outperformed both Shedur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, effectively leaving them in the dust.
Now, to be clear, Watson’s first half wasn’t exactly stellar. But the good news was he didn’t have to be; he was clearly a step above the other two quarterbacks.
Quarterback Battle in Preseason
Watson’s performance stood out, which is saying something given how the competition was pretty fierce. Sanders is vying for the starting position, while Gabriel is currently sitting at the third spot on the depth chart.
“It was definitely a good moment for me,” Watson reflected on his performance.
After all, it was his first game back following not one, but two ruptured Achilles tendons back in October 2024 and early 2025. So, it’s understandable that he’d feel a certain sense of accomplishment just being out there.
Of course, his return was more than just a return—it was a mixed bag of performance. Watson wasn’t terrible, but he also didn’t shine, especially compared to Sanders and Gabriel, who struggled significantly.
Cleveland’s head coach, Todd Monken, hyped up Watson’s outing. “Oh, it was great… It’s pretty cool to watch him play.” He acknowledged the frustrations Watson and fans have experienced but praised the quarterback for coming back strong.
Statistically, Watson completed 11 of 15 pass attempts, which is solid. The Browns also found the end zone while he was in the game, so that’s definitely a plus. However, he fumbled once, which was a setback—and no touchdown passes to report, either.
The fumble seemed to rattle Watson a bit. Before that mistake, he had completed 10 of his first 11 throws, with the lone incompletion being on a drop by tight end Harold Fannin. After the turnover, though, he only managed to complete one of his final four attempts.
Overall Assessment
So, what’s next for Watson? Monken appeared very impressed with his performance. Watson himself seems to have a good grasp of what he needs to improve on. While he may not have fully justified the hefty $230 million contract he signed with the Browns in 2022, his play was certainly decent.
Watson stated, “I don’t think I doubted it myself. That’s why I’ve worked so hard for the last two years to get back.” He acknowledged the challenges he faced, including injuries and off-field issues, but added that a full offseason should help him get back to form.
Meanwhile, both Sanders and Gabriel had their struggles—both threw interceptions, and Sanders even fumbled a snap. Their performance left much to be desired, with passer ratings of 39.6 and 27.1, respectively.
As for the next steps, Monken mentioned that Sanders is slated to start next week against the Buffalo Bills, with Watson coming in during the third quarter and Gabriel taking over in the fourth. The competition for the starting quarterback position is heating up!
