Deshaun Watson stepped back onto an NFL field for the first time in nearly two years and delivered a measured performance that left him feeling encouraged, even after a brief injury scare during the Cleveland Browns’ preseason loss to the Chicago Bears.
Watson completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards and a 98.2 passer rating while playing the entire first half. He guided the Browns to both of their scoring drives and helped them jump out to an early 10-0 lead before the Bears pulled away for a 34-10 victory.
The outing marked his first game action since October 2024, and the quarterback emerged from it without major physical concerns. The only hiccup came in the form of temporary numbness in his forearm and elbow. Watson downplayed the issue afterward, describing it as nothing serious.
“It was just my forearm and elbow,” Watson said. “Just a little numbness, but it went away as the game continued to go on. It was just a little funny bone thing.”
More important to Watson was the fact that he absorbed contact without any lingering effects.
“I didn’t get hit hard, and that’s the key,” he explained. “Just being able to stay healthy and not take unnecessary hits or blows that are going to add any extra stress to your body. It was good to feel the hits and get tackled a little bit.”
He later added that he “felt good, felt healthy” and had “no worries” while competing in live action.
Beyond the physical side, Watson projected confidence that he can still perform at a high level after years disrupted by injuries and an 11-game suspension in 2022.
“I don’t think that’s anything I doubted in myself,” he said. “That’s why I’ve worked hard these last two years to get back to that. I had some challenges with injuries and a suspension. Now being able to get a full offseason and work my way back up — you know, it takes time. But at the same time, I don’t doubt myself in any way that I can’t play at a high level.”
His return was not perfect. Watson lost a fumble after a sack and did not throw a touchdown pass. Still, the performance offered positive signs for a player trying to reclaim his place. Head coach Todd Monken has not yet named a starter, with Watson competing against Shedeur Sanders for the job.
Sanders appeared in the third quarter and is expected to start the next preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. The two will also split reps in an upcoming joint practice.
Watson said he remains focused on making the most of every opportunity.
“It goes back to what Todd and the organization and coaching staff want,” he noted. “Every opportunity I get, I want to continue to improve and take one step forward. Every day will be a challenge, but that’s the whole thing about the NFL. It’s a business, and every day is a challenge.”
For a quarterback who has waited a long time to return, the night represented a solid first step rather than a finished product.
