|
||
|
Weather Market News Livestock Grain International News US Ag News Sports DTN Ag Headlines |
|
|
Printable Page
08/15 17:12 CDT Deshaun Watson leads the Browns on 2 scoring drives in a 34-10
preseason loss to the Bears
Deshaun Watson leads the Browns on 2 scoring drives in a 34-10 preseason loss
to the Bears
By JAY COHEN
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) --- It was a mixed bag for Deshaun Watson. Same for Shedeur
Sanders.
Watson led the Browns on two scoring drives in the first half of Cleveland's
34-10 loss to the Chicago Bears, and Sanders tossed an ugly interception in the
fourth quarter of Saturday's preseason opener. The QBs are competing for the
starting job in coach Todd Monken's first training camp since taking over in
January.
"There were some things operationally that I know we can clean up, but I
thought at moments we threw the ball well, and that's what we needed to see,"
Monken said.
Watson was 11 for 15 for 126 yards but lost a fumble in his first game in
almost two years. Sanders was 6 for 11 for 79 yards while playing the third
quarter and first part of the fourth.
KC Concepcion had a 14-yard touchdown run for Cleveland on the first play of
the second quarter. The wide receiver, who also had three receptions for 27
yards, was a first-round pick in this year's draft.
"He's a very talented player," Watson said. "He is going to make a lot of plays
for this team."
Caleb Williams got the day off as Chicago coach Ben Johnson rested most of his
starters. Williams passed for 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns in Johnson's first
season, helping the Bears win the NFC North for the first time since 2018.
Johnson had wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El call plays in the second
half.
"I think it was a phenomenal experience for him," Johnson said, "and I know our
guys really rallied around that as well. ... It was a good opportunity for him
to get some recognition."
Tyson Bagent played the first half for the Bears, going 13 for 22 for 169 yards
and a touchdown. He also threw an interception. Case Keenum was 9 for 10 for
151 yards and two TDs.
Kiran Amegadjie started at left tackle as Chicago continued to look at its
options for the position. Jedrick Wills Jr. also played against his former
team, allowing a sack by Julian Okwara late in the first half.
"It's hard to say a whole lot about left tackle quite yet," Johnson said.
The 30-year-old Watson last played on Oct. 20, 2024. He suffered a
season-ending shoulder injury in 2023 and came back the next season only to
twice rupture his Achilles tendon.
He was also suspended 11 games by the NFL in 2022 after being accused of sexual
assault and misconduct by two dozen massage therapists while playing in Houston.
Watson helped Cleveland open a 10-0 lead. He fumbled on a sack in the second
quarter.
"It was good to be able to feel the hits and get tackled a little bit and just,
again, play football and throw the ball around and be out there just calling
plays," Watson said.
Sanders, who started seven games as a rookie in 2025, was picked off by Beanie
Bishop Jr. on a badly overthrown pass intended for Malachi Corley early in the
final period.
"It was the right read," Sanders said. "It just slipped. ... I just didn't
execute the decision, but the right decision was made."
Bishop also intercepted a pass by Dillon Gabriel, who finished the game for
Cleveland. Gabriel was 5 for 8 for 23 yards.
Monken plans to start Sanders in Cleveland's second preseason game against
Buffalo, with Watson beginning the second half behind center. The two will
share starting reps during a joint practice with the Bills on Thursday.
"The plan was always to get through the Bills game, switch up who was going to
start, who was going to play in the second half, and then we'll go from there,"
Monken said. "Every day is important."
Injuries Browns defensive backs Michael Coats Jr. (ankle) and Nate Evans (quad) left with injuries. The injury list for the Bears included safety Xavier Woods (groin), linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II (shoulder), tight end Nikola Kalinic (right knee) and linebacker Nephi Sewell (concussion). Bears wide receiver Luther Burden ran on the field before the game. Burden has been sidelined by a groin injury, but he is expected to be ready for the season opener on Sept. 13 at Carolina. Johnson said he thought defensive end Montez Sweat and offensive lineman Braxton Jones would be back at practice this week. Up next Browns: Host Buffalo next Saturday. Bears: At Cincinnati next Saturday night. The teams have a joint practice scheduled for Thursday. ___ See AP's full NFL coverage here |
| Copyright DTN. All rights reserved. Disclaimer. |