Deshaun Watson finally stepped back onto an NFL field for the first time since October 20, 2024, facing the Chicago Bears in Week 1 of the 2026 preseason. The Cleveland Browns took a tough 34-10 loss at Soldier Field, but head coach Todd Monken came away from it seriously impressed with his 30-year-old quarterback. When asked about Watson’s performance in his postgame conference, Monken didn’t mince words, calling it “awesome.”
Monken Praises Watson’s “High Level” Return
Monken was genuinely stoked to see Watson back out there, telling reporters, “It was so cool to watch him play. I mean, I get all of the frustration by fans, himself but for him to come back and work like he did is an unbelievable credit to him.” Can you imagine the pressure after being off the field for so long? Watson was out there having fun, which Monken found “so cool.” He really believes Watson “functioned at a high level,” despite admitting they still need to clean up the timeouts and those killer delay of game penalties. Monken’s main goal for Watson’s return was clear: “get his feet wet a little bit.” He wanted to see if the veteran quarterback could quickly get his confidence and enjoyment back, checking how comfortable Watson was “leading up to the game” and “in the huddle.” Watson played the entire first half, slinging it for 126 yards on 11 of 15 passes. Sounds like he hit those comfort goals right on the head.
The QB Competition Is Far From Over
Even with all the praise for Watson, Monken is not changing his tune on the quarterback competition. Not one bit. “I’m not ready to say it yet,” Monken stated when pressed about who’s winning the job. The plan, he said, has always been to get through the Bills game, switch up the starters, and *then* decide. So, don’t think for a second this is wrapped up. Shedeur Sanders is slated to start the preseason Week 2 game against the Buffalo Bills. Both Sanders and Watson will split first-team reps at joint practices leading up to that game, with Monken making it clear those practices are a crucial part of the evaluation. While Monken wasn’t thrilled about his quarterbacks committing three turnovers in the game,who would be?,he ultimately felt encouraged. Despite the “never gonna be ideal” turnovers, he was “really pleased with our quarterback play” and believes the team will “be able to throw the football [and] be effective in that.”
Next up, it’s Sanders getting the start against the Bills, with those joint practices playing a huge role. Every snap matters, and the Browns’ QB battle is just getting started.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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