The Cleveland Browns are back!
OK, it is only a preseason game, but the sight of those orange helmets on the green grass means that the regular season is not so far away.
This afternoon at Soldier Field in downtown Chicago, the Browns will take on the Chicago Bears in the opening game of the preseason for both teams.
It is a big day for the Browns and their ongoing quarterback battle, as veteran Deshaun Watson gets the start and could play the entire first half. Watson will be followed by second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders to finish out the afternoon.
Their performances will be part of head coach Todd Monken’s ongoing evaluation of one of the league’s sadder quarterback rooms as he ponders the best option for the regular season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This is also the first time that many will have an opportunity to see the rookie class in action, as well as an introduction to defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg.
It is the Browns vs. the Bears from Chicago, and here is everything you need to know about the game.
Game Info
Records: Cleveland is 0-0. Chicago is 0-0.
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
Stadium: Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill.
TV: WEWS News 5 (Cleveland area); NFL Network (Nationa)
Announcers: Chris Rose, Joe Thomas, and Aditi Kinkhabwala (sideline reporter)
Radio: 850 ESPN Cleveland, 98.5 WNCX, 92.3 The Fan WKRK, 1300 AM La Mega (Spanish-language)
Announcers: Andrew Siciliano, Nathan Zegura and Jerod Cherry (sidelines)
Weather: 76 degrees with a 52 percent chance of rain. Winds at 8 mph from the south/southeast. (weather.com)
Uniform: The Browns will be wearing their white jersey with white pants.
our uni's are laid out 😌@RiddellSports | #DawgPoundpic.twitter.com/ahDo1M3xEi
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 13, 2026
The line: Browns -3.5 per FanDuel.
Odds and Ends
- How much will the Browns’ starters play in the first preseason game? (Dawgs By Nature)
- Browns 53-man roster projection before the 1st preseason game (Dawgs By Nature)
- Browns preseason game reps will mean a lot to some key players (Dawgs By Nature)
- Browns HC Todd Monken makes his call for QB1 against the Bears (Dawgs By Nature)
- 6 Bears players to watch in preseason opener vs. Browns (chicagobears.com)
- Caleb Williams among ‘a number’ of Bears starters who won’t play in preseason opener (chicagobears.com)
- Browns’ starters set to play first series in preseason Week 1 | Injury Report (clevelandbrowns.com)
- Five things to watch in Chicago Bears’ preseason opener, starting with left tackle battle (The Athletic)
- Denzel Boston, Austin Barber among 8 Browns to watch in preseason opener (The Athletic)