What happened: The preseason opener marked Deshaun Watson’s first game action since October 2024. He was scheduled to play the entire first half as part of an ongoing starting-quarterback evaluation.
Why it matters: The live reps offered the clearest test yet of Watson’s bid for the QB1 job. An efficient showing adds weight to his case after an uneven training camp.
By the numbers: Watson completed 90.9% of his passes at that point, going 10-of-11 for 117 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
What to watch: The next checkpoint is how coaches divide first-team practice reps after the preseason opener.