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• 'Elite' Watson unfazed by low Cleveland Browns expectations

  Deshaun Watson makes his long-awaited return from injury for the Cleveland Browns this weekend, having reaffirmed his belief he is still an 'elite' passer in the NFL. 

  Watson, who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery last November, has played just 12 times for Cleveland since making his debut in 2022. 

  Before his injury, he threw for seven touchdowns and four interceptions in six appearances in 2023, leading his team to a 5-1 record.

  The 28-year-old has not featured during preseason but is relishing being labelled with the underdog tag ahead of Sunday's Week 1 clash with the Dallas Cowboys.

  "It's fine with us. It's perfect," Watson said of the lower expectations on Wednesday. "We're just going to go under the radar and work. That's all we can do."

  When asked whether he still considers himself one of the league's elite quarterbacks, Watson answered, "Of course. No doubt."

  Watson's last start for Cleveland came in a comeback 33-31 triumph over the Baltimore Ravens last November, completing 58.8% of his 34 passing attempts for 213 yards and a touchdown. 

  And while he enjoyed a successful start to last season, Watson is not looking to dwell on the past as he prepares for an exciting future with Cleveland.

  "Honestly, man, I don't even look at those six starts. It's a new year, it's a new season," Watson said.

  "You've got to focus on Week 1. In this system and this league, if you're focusing on last year, you're going to get left behind."

  While Watson will return to the lineup, he could be without his starting left tackle this week. 

  Jedrick Wills Jr. returned to practice this week for the first time since a season-ending knee injury last November, but told reporters he is not in contention to face the Cowboys.

  Jack Conklin, who is also returning from a season-ending knee injury he sustained in Week 1 last year, could start in his place. 

• Pennel rages against the Opta machine

  Kansas City Chiefs tackle Mike Pennel is out to prove the Opta supercomputer wrong after it estimated the team's chances of a Super Bowl three-peat at just 11.6%.

  The Chiefs are looking to make history in the 2024 campaign, which they open on Thursday with a mouthwatering tussle with the Baltimore Ravens, who they beat in last season's AFC Championship game.

  Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Andy Reid and company are out to make the Chiefs the first franchise in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls.

  Eight teams have previously won back-to-back Super Bowls, only to fail to make the showpiece game in the subsequent season, most recently the New England Patriots in 2004 and 2005.

  Ahead of the new campaign, the Opta supercomputer's predictive model, which takes into account a team's quarterback and EVE (efficiency vs expected) performance, rated Kansas City's chances of winning Super Bowl LIX at 11.6%.

  They are more favoured than AFC rivals Baltimore (10.8%), but the San Francisco 49ers – who the Chiefs beat at Super Bowl LVIII and Super Bowl LIV – are favourites with a 23.9% likelihood of winning it all.

  Pennel is desperate to prove the model wrong, telling Stats Perform: "Give me the opportunity to fight against the machines! I don't think we were favoured in any playoff game this year. You know what I mean? 

  "I'm pretty sure they're doing it off numbers, but we played them twice in the Super Bowl. We beat them twice. I guess we'll just have to get to it. 

  "I think we may see them again. But the NFC, they've got some tough teams out there right now. They got some teams that are ascending, Green Bay was looking good and are another dark horse. 

  "We'll see what Dallas is doing, how their contract situation works out. The Eagles look very, very, very solid. So we'll see how it shakes out. Remember, you've got to remain healthy to make it to the game. That's out of both teams' hands. 

  "We'll see what happens, but 23% to 11%? I can't agree with that. I would flip-flop that, but maybe it's calculating in the three-peat. Maybe that's what it is."

  The Chiefs have made six consecutive AFC Championship games since Mahomes became their starting quarterback in 2018, winning four of those and going on to claim three Super Bowl rings.

  Asked where their main competition might come from in the AFC, Pennel highlighted the Houston Texans – in their second year with C.J. Stroud leading the offense – as a major threat.

  "I love the direction that Houston is going in. They're going to be formidable in the AFC. Cleveland with a healthy Deshaun Watson, we're interested to see how that looks," he said.

  "Even in our division, you know, the Chargers with Jim Harbaugh, they've got a franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert. We know he'll be running the ball, but we'll see how that shakes out. 

  "The AFC is just getting better, man. There'll be a couple dark horses in there, but those are the two or three that I really think are going to take a leap and be competitive."

• Chase back in practice ahead of Bengals NFL opener

  Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase participated in practice after a hold-in ahead of their season opener against the New England Patriots.

  Chase returned for the Bengals' first official practice of game week, having missed their training camp and sparingly worked out during team practices as he tries to work on a contract negotiation.

  He has two years remaining on his current deal but has hopes of becoming one of the highest-paid receivers in the league.

  Chase was only listed as a limited participant in his first practice, working with fellow receiver Tee Higgins.

  However, his status for week one still remains a doubt, with Cincinnati unsure if they will be able to call upon him for their opener against the Patriots.

  Quarterback Joe Burrow said the Bengals would be ready either way and praised Chase's attitude towards the team.

  "We'll see if that ends up happening but whatever happens, we'll be prepared for it," Burrow said.

  "He looks as fast and strong like he always does.

  "He's always been a team-first, win-first kind of guy. That's the kind of guy Ja'Marr is, and you want to reward those guys."