Preseason football is intended to shake off the rust and get your team ready for the regular season. The Cleveland Browns' preseason opener against the Chicago Bears actually got off to a good start as they took an early 10-0 lead, but then the wheels fell off in the second half.
While it's sometimes hard to find the positive in an embarrassing loss like the one Cleveland suffered, eventually losing 34-10, there were some bright spots, especially with these three players.
Cleveland found a few bright spots in an otherwise ugly afternoon
1. Deshaun Watson, QB
After being inactive for almost two years because of multiple Achilles injuries dating back to October of 2024, Watson started for the Browns in Saturday's preseason game. He certainly wasn't perfect and made some mistakes, especially after the bulk of the first-string offensive line left the game. However, considering the scope of his injury recovery, it was good to see him play well in stretches.
Watson finished the first half going 11-for-15 for 126 yards and had a 98.2 passer rating. He did have the ball stripped for a fumble late in the first half. He didn't throw the ball more than 10 air yards on any of his passes in the game. His one big pass play to running back Dylan Sampson was a screen pass that Sampson rumbled for a 43-yard gain.
While Watson didn't show any flashes of greatness, he did put the team in a position to score points early. On the Browns' lone touchdown drive, rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion took a 14-yard jet sweep handoff to the house.
While Watson and second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders are immersed in a quarterback competition this preseason, it was at least good to see Watson run the offense efficiently early. There's a lot of work to come, but it's a good start.
2. KC Concepcion, WR
The Browns drafted Concepcion with the No. 24 overall pick with the hopes of finding a future No. 1 wide receiver. Cleveland also drafted wide receiver Denzel Boston at the start of the second round to bolster the wide receiver room even more.
Both made an immediate impact in their debuts against the Bears. Boston caught a nifty 15-yard pass from Watson early in the game, immediately showing fans why he could be a legitimate asset to the Browns' offense this season.
Concepcion had an even bigger impact early in the game. First, he took a punt return back 31 yards to set up a Browns scoring drive. If he hadn't gotten tripped up, he might have taken the punt back for a score.
Later in the second quarter, Concepcion took a jet sweep handoff from Watson 14 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. He was able to take a hit from a defender, maintain his balance, and reach the front pylon.
Concepcion also caught three passes for 27 yards. Cleveland has struggled to find wide receivers who could stick and help their offense. With both Concepcion and Boston joining the squad, that struggle might be gone.
3. Michael Coats Jr., CB
Michael Coats Jr. was an undrafted free agent when Cleveland brought him in after the draft. He was a starter at West Virginia a year ago, recording 30 tackles and seven pass deflections. The Browns are searching for depth on defense, especially in the secondary, and Coats might be their guy.
Despite his small 5-foot-9 stature, Coats has emerged in training camp for the Browns as a solid contributor, and that continued in the first preseason game. He had an interception and recorded two tackles, along with a couple of pass deflections.
He did suffer an ankle injury later in the game, but head coach Todd Monken told reporters on Sunday that he expects Coats to be OK.
Coats signed a three-year, $3.1 million contract with $115,000 guaranteed this offseason, so you know the Browns have a strong interest in keeping him around. It's not often that you find an undrafted free agent who can make an immediate impact, so Coats could be a real win for the Browns.
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