Deshaun Watson's Return to Field Since 2024 Injuries Hailed as Success Compared to QB Rivals

A common anecdote suggests that when fleeing a bear with a companion, one doesn't need to outrun the bear, but merely outpace the friend. This sentiment aptly describes Deshaun Watson's performance in his initial NFL appearance since 2024, a preseason contest against the Chicago Bears.

Watson's return to the field was largely considered a success because, while his play wasn't flawless, it significantly surpassed the outings of fellow quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.

This game marked Watson's first competitive action since he sustained not one, but two Achilles tears—one in October of 2024 and another early in 2025. A key victory for the often-injured player was simply completing the game without further physical setbacks.

A Cautious Return to the Field

Beyond his physical well-being, Watson's on-field display was neither outstanding nor poor. However, this middle-ground performance made him appear exceptional when compared to Sanders, with whom he is vying for a starting position, and Gabriel, currently the team's third-string quarterback.

Watson himself described his outing as, "Definitely a good moment for myself."

Evaluating the Performance

Statistically, Watson completed 11 of 15 passes. The team managed to score points during his time on the field. However, he did not throw a touchdown pass and committed one turnover via a fumble.

The fumble appeared to disrupt Watson's rhythm; he had completed 10 of his first 11 attempts prior to the turnover, with his only incompletion resulting from a dropped pass by tight end Harold Fannin. Following the fumble, he connected on just one of his subsequent four throws.

Head coach Todd Monken expressed considerable enthusiasm regarding Watson's play. "Oh, it was awesome," Monken stated, perhaps with some exaggeration, when asked about the quarterback's return. "I mean, it was so cool to watch him play. 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. And then to go out there; he was having fun today. And that is so cool. And I thought he really functioned at a high level."

Watson indicated he performed as anticipated. He acknowledged that his play might not yet align with the fully guaranteed $230 million contract he signed in 2022, but he remained confident in his abilities.

"I don't think that's anything that I doubted myself," Watson commented. "That's the reason why I've worked hard these last two years, you know, to get back to that. I had some, some challenges with some injuries and suspension and, you know, now being able to get a full offseason and continue to work my way back up. It takes time. But I don't doubt myself in any way that I can't play at a high level."

The Competition's Struggles

In stark contrast, both Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel threw interceptions during their turns. Sanders also fumbled a snap, and although he recovered it, the error resulted in a lost down for the team.

Sanders concluded his performance with a passer rating of 39.6, while Gabriel's rating was even lower at 27.1. Both quarterbacks struggled significantly despite playing against opposing backup units.

Looking ahead, Coach Monken announced that Sanders is slated to start the next preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, playing the first half. Watson will enter the game in the third quarter, with Gabriel taking over in the fourth.

The competition for the starting quarterback position continues to unfold.