Watson Denies New Allegations, ‘Focused on Football’

Deshaun Watson was accused of sexual assault and battery in a civil lawsuit filed earlier this week in Texas.

The former Clemson and current Cleveland Browns quarterback denied those allegations Wednesday in a statement from his lawyer, Rusty Hardin.

“Deshaun strongly denies the allegations in the Jane Doe lawsuit filed Monday,” Hardin wrote in the statement. “We have asked him not to comment further while this matter works its way through the courts, but are comfortable he will ultimately be vindicated. We will be ready to defend this case in court at the appropriate time, but don’t intend to conduct our defense in the media. We would ask that people be patient while the legal process runs its course.”

On Tuesday, both the NFL and the Browns commented on the situation concerning Watson.

“We are reviewing the complaint, and we will look into the matter under the personal conduct policy,” league spokesperson Brian McCarthy said.

“We will respect the due process our legal system affords regarding the recently filed civil suit and follow the NFL’s guidelines on this matter,” the Browns said in a statement.

On Wednesday, both Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and Watson met with the media and addressed the new allegations against Watson.

“Regarding Deshaun’s legal situation, we put out a statement yesterday. I won’t have much to add past that statement. We’ll let due process play out and follow the NFL’s guidelines,” Stefanski said.

Watson said he’s “focused on football” amid the allegations, and that he was surprised by the latest civil lawsuit filed against him by the woman alleging he sexually assaulted her four years ago.

“I found out exactly when everyone else found out,” Watson said when asked if he had any idea the lawsuit was coming.

The Browns (0-1) play at the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1) on Sunday, and the Browns said that Watson will play in the game.

“I’m focused on football,” Watson said. “I’m focused on keeping the main thing the main thing, and that’s when I walk into this building, I’m focusing on being the best quarterback I can be, on the game plan and trying to be better than we were last week so we can get a W.”

Watson was traded to Cleveland from the Houston Texans in March 2022 before signing a new fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract with the Browns. He served an 11-game suspension to begin the 2022 season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy and has settled 23 of the 24 lawsuits filed against him in 2022.