CHICAGO ― The last time anyone saw either Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders playing in a game, it was against the Cincinnati Bengals. Now, when and where that game was played is vastly different. But that sentence is, in fact, a factual statement. Watson last played on Oct. 20, 2024, in a Week 7 home loss to the Bengals. Sanders last played on Jan. 4 of this year, in a Week 18 road win over the Bengals. Subscribe to Browns Insider newsletter
Regardless, both will finally get a chance to play in a game Aug. 15 when they Browns open the preseason at the Chicago Bears. Obviously, the stakes are significantly lower for this, a preseason game, than a regular-season game, except that how they perform in Chicago may have a say in which one gets to start the regular-season opener Sept. 13 at Jacksonville. Coach Todd Monken says there's a painful lesson quarterbacks can learn playing in the preseason they can't get in practice — they can get hit by the defense if things don't go right. “In terms of getting the ball out, they’ve got to learn to get the ball out, learn how to slide, not just run around," Monken said this week. "I do want playmaking ability, so there’s a balance there between playmaking ability and taking some sacks. You’re going to have to live with that to an extent. "The other part is stacking plays where it matters, because they’ve got the scoreboard on, in terms of points on the board, in terms of the flow of the game. That’s a big part of it." Monken will get to see that in Chicago. Both Watson and Sanders know very well what getting hit feels like, even if it's been some time ― in Watson's case, more than 660 days ― since they took the last of those hits. Watson was sacked 33 times in just six-and-a-half games in 2024 before he suffered a season-ending Achilles tear against Cincinnati. Sanders was sacked 23 times in seven-and-a-half games he played down the stretch of the 2025 season. Beyond that, both quarterbacks have played the position long enough that they're well aware of what it feels like to take a hit. However, both also struggled with getting rid of the ball quickly the last time they played, so Monken's reasoning is not without its merits. “You got to think of how many times I got hit in college," Sanders said Aug. 12. "They don’t really faze me at all at this point in life. And obviously it’s the league, and I got hit multiple times last year. I like the challenge of going out there to get the ball out of my hand, so I don’t get hit. That’s the challenge for me — to be able to make the right reads, to be able to go through progressions and figure it out. "Even in practice, I don’t take it lightly when I could possibly get hit, because I’m trying to improve the process and speed everything up."
Monken said he expects Watson, who will start against Chicago, to play the first half. Sanders will then get the third quarter, with that rotation flipping for the second preseason game at home against the Buffalo Bills. The hits may affect Watson a little differently now than the last time he felt one because of the long layoff. It's part of what he's looking forward to in the game, the fact there will be no safety net provided to quarterbacks like in practice. “For me, it’s just really being able to play live football against a different opponent," Watson said Aug. 12. "I’m not worried about being hit or anything like that. That’s part of the game. But as far as me operating in a live setting without being on the practice field with coaches being on the field with you, that’s what I’m looking forward to, and just getting those reps.” Buy Cleveland Browns tickets Watson said the big thing that will take adjustment when going from the relative security of practice to the unscripted chaos of the games, even in the preseason, is the speed. He's even struggled with that at times in practice, throwing a number of interceptions in part because he finds himself throwing into double- or triple-coverage. Sanders hasn't thrown as many practice picks as Watson, although all four quarterbacks have combined for nearly 20 interceptions in camp. But he thinks the general format of practice is game-like enough to get them into the right state in order to play. “We approach practice like a game, so it’s the same amount of focus and seriousness that it is," Sanders said. "That’s why I’m excited to feel how similar it feels to practice, honestly, because there’s a different type of intention and mentality that we go out there every day with.” Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/ This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: To get hit, or not to get hit. That's the Browns QBs' preseason test