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Browns' Deshaun Watson discusses offseason approach
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is admittedly in a better place today than where he was last June.
"I feel really good," Watson said while speaking with reporters on Wednesday, per Jake Trotter of ESPN. "The biggest thing is the confidence level, knowing who I am, trusting what I do, trusting the work that I put in these past couple years to get back to this position I'm in ... So, I'm enjoying myself. I'm having fun."
Watson sat through the 2021 campaign while with the Houston Texans following an offseason trade request and likely realized when Houston traded him to Cleveland he'd miss time this past season due to allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. While two grand juries declined to indict Watson, the NFL nevertheless suspended the 27-year-old for 11 games for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
Watson looked rusty in a new offense across his first six contests with Cleveland following the ban. He completed just 58.2% of 170 pass attempts for 1,102 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions, and ESPN stats show he would've finished the regular season ranked 27th with a 38.3 adjusted QBR if he was among qualified players.
Watson indicated he believes he'll return to the form that made him a three-time Pro Bowl selection thanks to spending an entire offseason working under head coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt at the same time he's cemented atop Cleveland's depth chart.
"I’m pretty far ahead of where I was last year," Watson added during his comments, as shared by Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "Last year was, as far as football and being on the field, just learning a new system. Trying to adapt to different teammates, different players, how guys run routes, how Kevin calls the plays. It’s just being able to process the game at the speed I know. Being a year in and being able to speak to Kevin and AVP about what we want to do and being confident about it, it allows me to play a little bit faster when I’m on the field."
The Browns understood when they gave Watson $230M in fully guaranteed money over five years in March 2022 he wouldn't be available for a full season before 2023 at the earliest. It's now on Watson to prove he was worth that type of investment as he tries to guide Cleveland on a lengthy playoff run beginning in September.
More must-reads:
- Browns HC Kevin Stefanski praises rookie after first day of minicamp
- Amari Cooper addresses Browns possibly signing DeAndre Hopkins
- The 'First defensive player selected in the NFL Draft' quiz
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Bears make big decision amid concerning Caleb Williams reports
Second-year Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and other starters were spectators for Chicago's preseason opener versus the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, first-year Bears head coach Ben Johnson confirmed things will be different when his club hosts the Buffalo Bills for an exhibition matchup this coming Sunday evening. "Everyone's going to play," Johnson said, as shared by Courtney Cronin of ESPN. Johnson added that how many snaps Williams will take versus the Bills is "to be determined." The Bears will first host the Bills for a joint practice on Friday. Johnson came to this decision following multiple reports detailing the supposed struggles that Williams has endured throughout training camp. Most recently, Monday’s practice was allegedly "a low point for" Chicago's first-team offense and featured "Williams and receiver Rome Odunze both looking frustrated" after some failed connections. "I've been pretty consistent with the thought of reps, reps, reps are the most important thing to get [Williams] up to speed," Johnson explained. "And by the plan that we had a week ago, we were able to get him probably somewhere between 80 and 100 more reps than we would've been able to do had he played in the game. This week, it's a different schedule. Different length of time in terms of in between games and all that. And so, our plan right now is the guys that sat out last week, they will be playing this week." Those running the Bears hope that the hiring of Johnson, an advertised offensive guru, will help Williams become a top-tier quarterback after the 23-year-old won only five of 17 starts during his rookie season. However, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic is among those who have mentioned that Williams has been responsible for a noteworthy number of inaccurate passes this summer. "I think the trust that we've been talking about from the get-go, that's really where that comes into play," Johnson added about risking the health of his starters by playing them against Buffalo. "We haven't been here with this group as a coaching staff. That trust has been earning, and we've been developing that amongst each other. It's not a one-way street. It goes both ways. And so I think that's just another step in the progression, you know?" The Bears will wrap up the preseason with a game at the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 22. It's unclear if Williams or other Chicago starters will see any action that Friday night.
Cubs catcher lost to horrific-looking injury on same day he returns from IL
After working to return to the Chicago Cubs' lineup following an oblique injury, Miguel Amaya suffered a gruesome-looking injury in his first game back with the Cubs on Wednesday night. Running to first base, Amaya just beat out an infield single on a slow dribbler to shortstop when his left foot landed forcefully on the base, causing his leg to buckle and sending Amaya flying down the first base line. Following the injury, Amaya was carted off the field in Toronto with a towel over his face. The emotions shown by Amaya as he was carted off indicated he knew already he would miss more time in a season that has been marred by injuries. After the game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Amaya would be going back on the injured list with what was diagnosed as a left ankle sprain. X-rays, however, were negative. The 26-year-old Amaya had just told reporters after being activated from the 60-day injured list that he was thankful he was healthy. Just three at-bats later, Amaya was once again injured. Amaya's three at-bats against the Blue Jays on Wednesday represented his first game action since May 24, when he recorded just two at-bats against the Cincinnati Reds before leaving the game with an oblique injury. In just 96 at-bats this season, Amaya is slashing .281/.314/.500 with four home runs and 25 RBI. Amaya's injury is another blow for the Cubs, who have seen their lead in the National League Central evaporate as the Milwaukee Brewers have now won 12 consecutive games and are 20-4 since the All-Star break. As has been the case in Amaya's absence, Carson Kelly and Reese McGuire will continue to be the dominant presences behind the plate for the Cubs. Joining with Amaya, the duo has helped the Cubs record a 2.8 Wins Above Average (WAA) at catcher, the highest mark of any MLB team. After Amaya's injury, the Cubs would go on to post a 4-1 win over the Blue Jays.
Dolphins-Lions Joint Practice #2 Recap
Dolphins-Lions Joint Practice #2 Recap The Miami Dolphins held their 2nd joint practice against the Detroit Lions on Thursday. Here is what took place on the field from our “mole” who is on site. Tyreek Hill has an oblique injury and did not practice today Zach Sieler did not practice today, and doesn’t appear to be injury-related Chop Robinson returned to practice after suffering a rib injury yesterday that caused him to be carted off the field Tua Tagovailoa hit Erik Ezukanma for a touchdown in the 1-on-1 drills Tua also hit Jaylen Waddle for a touchdown in the 1-on-1 drills Zach Wilson threw touchdowns to Tarik Black and Tajh Washington in the same drills once he got on the field Aiden Hutchinson sacked Tua Jordyn Brooks had a tackle for a loss on a play Ethan Bonner broke up a pass Ifeatu Melifonwu broke up a pass intended for Jameson Williams Rock Ya-Sin of the Lions punched Patrick Paul in the helmet. Paul walked away Tua hit Jaylen Waddle for roughly 9 yards on a Bubble Screen play Amon-Ra St. Brown beat Cornell Armstrong for a TD Lions LB Alex Anzalone swatted down a Tua pass Willie Gay Jr and Jordan Phillips had a tackle for loss on a running play Jaylen Wright had a big run on a play Tua hit Dee Eskridge for roughly 25-30 yards on a pass play Jameson Williams beat Storm Duck for a TD Jarod Goff hit Jameson Williams for a deep TD pass A fight between the Dolphins’ Defense and the Lions’ Offense was quickly broken up Minkah Fitzpatrick sacked Goff Dee Eskridge with a beautiful TD reception over Lions defender DJ Reed Zach Wilson hit Andrew Armstrong for a nice reception Minkah Fitzpatrick sacked Jarod Goff Zach Wilson threw a 2-yard TD to RB Mike Boone Tua threw a 50+ yard pass that was overthrown and went off Waddle’s hands Dolphins safety John Saunders Jr. forced a fumble in the red zone Jaylen Wright with a 10-yard run on a play Tua to Malik Washington for 8 yards Minkah Fitzpatrick and David Montgomery had a big collision on a play; neither was injured Aaron Shampklin had a 5 yard touchdown run for the Dolphins on a play Zach Wilson hit Theo Wease Jr for a 20 yard reception
NY Giants' Marcus Mbow Making Strong Preseason Impression
All eyes were on quarterback Jaxson Dart and edge rusher Abdul Carter during the New York Giants' preseason win over the Buffalo Bills, and understandably so. How those two first-round draft picks develop during their respective careers will determine where this franchise's ceiling extends to in the next several years. But you cannot forget about the offensive line. And you should not overlook rookie Marcus Mbow. The 22-year-old offensive lineman out of Purdue shone brightly in Buffalo, holding strong at both right and left tackle. Pro Football Sports Network named Mbow as the Giants' most outstanding player in Week 1 of the preseason, highlighting the indisputable impact he made in the trenches. "Mbow locked up whichever side he was on, anchoring and locking up his matchup," PFSN’s analysis noted. "He was mobile and powerful in the run game, bulldozing several defenders on the outside. The Giants have invested heavily in their offensive line, with Mbow, a 2025 fifth-round pick, potentially having the most potential of all." The 6-foot-5, 300-pounder recovered from an early scuffle -- one that saw him get pushed back toward Dart -- and provided valuable protection for New York's quarterbacks and running backs. His contributions to the former were particularly noticeable. In college, Mbow allowed just one pressure and posted an 81.2 pass-blocking grade in 35 pass block snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. He kept his feet moving, stayed balanced, and frequently sent opposing linemen to the ground with his impressive physicality. The No. 154 overall selection made a lasting impression in his preseason debut, giving the coaching staff plenty to consider. NY Giants love Mbow's versatility There are a few question marks on this O-line, and those uncertainties will only multiply if LT Andrew Thomas cannot get healthy. Perhaps Marcus Mbow can answer at least one of them. Although the former Boilermaker standout is currently slotted behind RT Jermaine Eluemunor on the Giants' unofficial depth chart, he boasts the versatility and athleticism to effectively fill the vitally important swing tackle position. New York's line will crumble once again if it does not have sufficient depth. While it is a small sample size, Mbow's dependable outing against the Bills suggests he could provide reinforcements when needed. And eventually, maybe this Day 3 pick can earn a starting job. If Jaxson Dart is going to serve as the Giants' long-term quarterback option, he will require a reasonably clean pocket. A young lineman like Mbow who could help keep Dart on his feet for the many years to come would be ideal. Neither he nor the Giants can get ahead of themselves, though. There is still much to evaluate at training camp and in New York's final two preseason games. Mbow must maintain the same tenacity and crisp technique he demonstrated last weekend. He knows what it takes to gain respect on the gridiron. The Wisconsin native did what Purdue asked of him, faring well on the outside and interior. He aims to do the same in the NFL. The Giants would be wise to take advantage of his work ethic and multifaceted skill set. Fresh off a superb preseason debut, Mbow will try to earn some more trust when the Giants battle the New York Jets this weekend. What happens next with the NY Giants? Find out! Follow and like us on Facebook. Visit our YouTube channel for the latest videos. Want to send a question in for our mailbag? You can do so here. More from New York Giants On SI
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