The Cleveland Browns got off to a bad start in 2026 with a 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week One of the NFL season, but former Washington Huskies star wide receiver Denzel Boston looked like a bright spot for the team in his NFL debut.
The 6-foot-4 second-round pick in April's draft impressed, hauling in a pair of receptions for 59 yards, headlined by a 46-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Deshaun Watson late in the fourth quarter.
For Boston, who was widely considered to be a first-round pick in the pre-draft process, he's taken his slide and turned it into a chip on his shoulder, something that showed up in his debut.
Denzel Boston with his first NFL TD#CLEvsJAX on CBS pic.twitter.com/2EzcBkQMF5
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 13, 2026
“It’s about me proving myself right
that I should’ve been in that round,” Boston told Cleveland 19 News about feeling snubbed. “But at the same time, time has passed.”
Practicing against one of the NFL's best tandems of cornerbacks in Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell throughout training camp looked to be extremely beneficial for Boston as he adapts to the next level after starring for Jedd Fisch and the Huskies.
“It’s one of those things where, again, like iron sharpens iron,” he added. “To be able to go up against those guys who are seasoned vets, have been in the league for a while, stayed in the league for a while, going up against them every day is a challenge, but also at the same time, I love because going against them gets you ready for that premier corner you’re going to see in the league.”
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Former Washington football star impresses in NFL debut
