The Cleveland Browns lost their preseason opener to the Chicago Bears 34-10 on Saturday at Soldier Field. The game marked Deshaun Watson’s return to action after almost two years on the sidelines.
The quarterback, in his first game since tearing his Achilles in October 2024, led Cleveland’s only touchdown drive. Wide receiver KC Concepcion scored on a 14-yard run in the second quarter that gave the Browns a 10-0 lead.
Watson finished 11-for-15 for 126 yards with no touchdowns, no interceptions and one sack, playing the entire first half. Few of his passes were thrown more than 10 yards.
Shedeur Sanders opened the second half at QB and played six snaps into the fourth quarter. Attempting more downfield throws, he finished 6-for-11 for 79 yards and one interception, resulting in a 39.6 passer rating, compared to Watson’s 98.2, as their competition to become Cleveland’s starter took its next step.
After the Browns received the opening kickoff, Watson’s first series in almost two years ended in a three-and-out without him attempting a pass. Three straight runs by Quinshon Judkins left them with a fourth-and-2 on their own 33.
Then, after forcing a punt by the Bears, Watson engineered a short scoring drive that ended with a 50-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt for a 3-0 lead. Watson overcame a 15-yard tripping penalty by offensive tackle Tytus Howard with three straight completions.
His first of the preseason was for six yards to tight end Blake Whiteheart. He followed that with a 14-yard pass to wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, and a 15-yard pass to rookie Denzel Boston that gave Cleveland a first down. The drive stalled on a third-down incompletion with tight end Harold Fannin Jr. as the intended receiver.
To open the second quarter, Watson led a 10-play, 81-yard touchdown drive that was capped by Concepcion’s scoring run, which he finished by reaching around the pylon. The QB was 4-for-4 on the drive for 63 yards, highlighted by a 43-yard catch-and-run by running back Dylan Sampson.
On the next series, Watson lost a fumble on a sack at midfield, leading to a Bears touchdown. Tyson Bagent hit Maurice Alexander for a 25-yard score that made it 10-7. After two straight three-and-outs by Cleveland, Cairo Santos kicked a 51-yard field goal for Chicago on the final play of the first half for a 10-10 tie.
Sanders took over to begin the third quarter and, with long completions to Gage Larvadain and Luke Floriea, led a drive to Chicago’s 5-yard-line. Going for it on fourth-and-1, running back Ahmani Marshall was stopped for a one-yard loss. Sanders’ day ended with an overthrown interception by Bears defensive back Beanie Bishop.
Chicago scored twice in the third to take a 24-10 lead. Salvon Ahmed caught a short pass from Case Keenum and turned it into a 49-yard touchdown, and Keenum threw a six-yard TD pass to Brittain Brown. Coleman Bennett added a three-yard TD run for the 34-10 final.
Dillon Gabriel finished the game at quarterback for the Browns, and his overthrown interception led to a 49-yard field goal by Santos for a 27-10 Bears lead. Gabriel completed five of eight passes for 23 yards, and he was sacked twice.
In Todd Monken’s debut as Browns head coach, Chicago outgained Cleveland in total yards, 430-315, with the Bears posting 348 passing yards. The Browns had 13 total first downs on 12 offensive drives.
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