Deshaun Watson Faces New Allegations as Accuser Plans to Meet with NFL
A woman suing Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has announced her intention to cooperate with the NFL as it investigates her allegations of sexual assault and battery. The accuser, who remains unidentified, filed a civil lawsuit in Harris County, Texas, on Monday, claiming that Watson assaulted her during a dinner date at her apartment in October 2020, when he was still a player for the Houston Texans.
Her attorney, Tony Buzbee, informed ESPN that they are in the process of scheduling a meeting with the NFL within the next two weeks. “We have a video and two additional witnesses for the NFL to speak with,” Buzbee wrote in an email. He expressed skepticism about the NFL’s disciplinary process but noted that his client has chosen to engage with it despite these doubts.
Buzbee, known for representing multiple women who filed sexual misconduct lawsuits against Watson, previously settled 23 of these cases out of court. The NFL is currently reviewing the latest complaint to determine whether Watson breached its personal conduct policy. As the investigation is still in its early stages, Watson has not been placed on the commissioner’s exempt list. Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Watson is expected to start against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
Watson, who turns 29 on Saturday, has denied the new allegations through his attorney. This lawsuit adds to Watson’s ongoing legal troubles. In 2021, he sat out the entire season due to sexual misconduct allegations, with the first lawsuit filed against him in March of that year. After being traded to the Browns in a high-profile deal, Watson served an 11-game suspension during the 2022 season and was fined $5 million. Despite these setbacks, the Browns signed Watson to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract extension.
Watson’s tenure with the Browns has been marred by both legal issues and injuries, limiting him to just 13 starts over more than two seasons. To date, he has completed 59.1 percent of his passes for 2,386 yards, with 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
As the NFL continues its review, the outcome of the investigation could have significant implications for Watson’s future in the league and his standing with the Browns.