Deshaun Watson views Browns preseason as comeback test

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is embracing the preseason as a critical proving ground as he returns from two Achilles injuries that have kept him out of game action since October 2024. Speaking to reporters at training camp, Watson expressed his eagerness to finally play football again, framing the upcoming exhibition games as a vital opportunity to showcase his recovery and readiness.

Watson, who last played in a regular-season game midway through the 2024 season before tearing his Achilles a second time during rehabilitation, said his primary focus is simply getting back on the field. He acknowledged that many had written off his career following the consecutive serious injuries. The quarterback stated he is using that doubt as motivation, aiming to prove his critics wrong and himself right. His performance in camp has been described as decent, with the team's first practice in pads scheduled for Monday, August 3.

His return coincides with a high-profile quarterback competition with second-year player Shedeur Sanders, who started the final games of the 2025 season. Watson downplayed early camp interceptions, attributing them to working on timing with receivers...