Cleveland Browns football is (sort of) back. They began their preseason slate with a 34-10 loss to the Chicago Bears. It was a game filled with firsts for the franchise. Todd Monken's first game manning the sideline as head coach. Deshaun Watson's first start after rupturing his Achilles. The first opportunity for the Browns' rookies to play on an NFL field. 

Here's everything we learned about the Browns on Saturday: 

Monken prides himself on playing to the strengths of his players and his team, and he seemed to live up to that in this first preseason game.

He proved to have a really good grip on what roles best suit guys like Dylan Sampson and KC Concepcion, using them both as an extension of the run game. He schemed up so easy throws for both Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. He started the game with three straight runs, leaning into the core of his identity. 

It wasn't all good or pretty, but there were definitely some signs of life in Monken's offense and an understanding of how to deploy guys. 

Expectations for Watson were low for most, given everything that's transpired the last four years in Cleveland. In his first game action since rupturing his Achilles in October of 2024, Watson looked pretty comfortable overall. 

After a three-and-out on the first drive, Watson found a nice rhythm on the second series, despite getting backed up in a first-and-25 following a penalty. Watson quickly completed four straight passes to Blake Whiteheart, Jerry Jeudy, Denzel Boston and then Jeudy again two plays later. 

On a third-and-five from the Bears 32, he hit Harold Fannin Jr. with a perfect pass that he dropped to set up a field goal for the first points of the game. He closed out the quarter with a drive that ended with a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. 

That was the good. The bad included a strip sack after Bears DE Jamree Kromah beat Austin Barber and swiped the ball from Watson's hand, a not-so-pretty two-minute drive to end the half and some of those patented low Watson throws. But there were plenty of encouraging signs for him in this one. 

As expected, the Browns' rookies continue to be the stars of the show. That starts in the WR room with KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston.

The former was featured quite a bit while the ones were on the field for a good chunk of the first half, including taking wide receiver sweep to the end zone, showing some incredible balance along the sideline along the way. He finished with three receptions for 27 yards and the one carry for 14 yards and a TD. 

Boston caught one pass for 15 yards on a curl route near the sideline as Watson got rolling a bit on the Browns' second drive of the game, continuing to make impactful plays. Spencer Fano also held his own at left tackle, seeing plenty of snaps as the lone first-team o-lineman to stay on the field after the first two series. It was a solid day for many of Cleveland's rookies. 

The linebacker depth chart is truly a land of opportunity for players behind Carson Schwesinger and Quincy Williams. Easton Mascarenas-Arnold has stood out at camp plenty, but Saturday was Winston's Reid's chance to shine. 

He was flying around, making plays and ultimately finished with five combined tackles and an impressive three pass breakups. His prowess as a special teamer pretty much ensured he'll make this roster, but he may earn some more playing time at LB too. 

Coats Jr. has been on the rise over the last week or so of camp. He's been making some plays in Berea, and now it's carried over to the actual game field. Before exiting with an ankle injury, the undrafted rookie made two tackles, broke up two passes, and snared an interception. In a room with a concerning lack of depth, he's the one standout at the moment. 

Despite what the Browns "unofficial" depth chart said, Ahmani Marshall was actually third in the order when it came to running backs. He started getting some touches late in the first quarter, swapping in and out with Dylan Sampson. It's an interesting development for that position group, and one worth monitoring moving forward. 

Before throwing an interception on his final attempt of the game, Sanders showcased his improved pocket presence in a game setting for the first time. There were two throws that really stood out, both from his first series. 

The first one was the 35-yard bomb to Luke Floriea, where he stood in the pocket and delivered an incredible strike against cover 0, with pressure bearing down on him. He got his right as he threw but showed a lot of poise standing in to make the throw. 

The second one came several plays later on a check down to Ahamni Marshall, where Sanders felt some pressure and moved around in the pocket but reset his feet to make a confident throw to Marshall in the flat. 

Two different plays, with two very different results, but they both showed how far he's come in improving his game. The interception was a bad throw, no doubt; he also fumbled a snap at one point. Those things will likely overshadow the good, but a big week awaits him.  

As mentioned, Coats left this game with an ankle injury and never returned. Later in the game, undrafted rookie Nate Evans also left due to a quad injury. Those are the latest injuries to a cornerback room that's already lacking depth. It's officially critical mass in the CB room. 

Remember when everyone was ready to run Andre Szmyt out of town after missing a field goal and an extra point in a Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals? Boy does that conversation seem silly now. 

Not only did Szmyt finish the season strong last year, and earn a walk-off win over the Bengals in Week 18, but he's picked up where he left off. The Syracuse product has been money at camp and he was money again on Saturday against the Bears, where he nailed a 50-yard FG early in the game. 

Meanwhile, Concepcion looks like a real weapon in the return game after returning a punt for 31 yards in the first quarter. Perhaps the Browns special teams are finally fixed.