The Cleveland Browns hit the field for the first time under new head coach Todd Monken on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET (NFL Network) against the Chicago Bears, but will Deshaun Watson play vs. the Bears?
After well over a year away due to injury, Watson is set to start at Soldier Field against Chicago, and although Monken plans to play his starters, our Browns vs. Bears predictions and NFL picks are fading Cleveland due to the QB situation
Will Deshaun Watson play vs Bears?
Earlier this week, Monken confirmed that Deshaun Watson will start for the Cleveland Browns in their opening preseason game against the Chicago Bears. The Browns head coach said the former Pro Bowler will play the entire first half of the game, while second-year QB Shedeur Sanders will start the second half.
"I have my reasons for how it's going to go, and it's still a competition," Monken said on Wednesday. "We're excited to watch guys practice today, let alone on Saturday, and then next week against Buffalo, and we'll get a chance to see them both. Every week we'll assess it."
Monken has already said that Sanders will start the Browns' second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 22.
This will be Watson's first NFL action since tearing his Achilles against the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 20, 2024. He then re-ruptured the same Achilles on Jan. 9, 2025, causing him to miss all of last season.
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Deshaun Watson timeline
| Date | Team | Injury/suspension | Games missed |
| Jan. 9, 2025 | Cleveland Browns | Re-rupture of torn Achilles | 17 |
| Oct. 20, 2024 | Cleveland Browns | Torn Achilles | 10 |
| Nov. 12, 2023 | Cleveland Browns | Broken bone in shoulder | 8 |
| Aug. 18, 2022 | Cleveland Browns | Suspension (violating NFL's personal conduct policy) | 11 |
| Ahead of 2021 season | Houston Texans | Held out following sexual harassment allegations | 17 |
Who will be Browns starting QB in Week 1?
Although Watson leads the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback odds by a mile and is starting the first preseason game, it's no given he'll be the Week 1 starter.
Between injury, suspension, and being held out due to sexual harassment allegations, Watson has missed 63 games over the last five seasons and hasn't started a regular season game in nearly two years. And when he has been on the field, it's been unimpressive to put it mildly.
Since signing a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract with the Browns after being traded to Cleveland by the Houston Texans, Watson has played in just 19 of a possible 68 regular season games. In those 19 games, he's had a QBR above 50 just four times and has accounted for nearly as many turnover-worthy plays (18) as TD passes (18).
Despite his struggles, Watson appears to have the edge in the Browns' QB race thanks to his contract and experience. It doesn't help Sanders' case that he posted an 18.9 QBR as a rookie last season.
At this point, it looks like Monken would rather go with the experienced hand over one of the young QBs on the roster.
