Update on Watson and Latest Lawsuit

Deshaun Watson was accused of sexual assault and battery in a civil lawsuit filed last month in Texas.

The former Clemson and current Cleveland Browns quarterback has now settled that lawsuit, according to a report from the Associated Press this week:

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, said in a text message to The Associated Press on Monday night that his client’s claim against Watson has been settled confidentially.

Buzbee had threatened to have his client speak to the NFL, which had opened an investigation against Watson. It’s not yet known if Watson will face any further discipline from the league.

Last month, Watson denied the allegations 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.”

Watson, now in his third season with the Browns, 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 previously settled 23 of the 24 lawsuits filed against him in 2022.

Last season, Watson went 5-1 in his six games with the Browns before a shoulder injury ended his campaign prematurely. He underwent surgery last November to repair a displaced fracture to the glenoid in his right (throwing) shoulder.

Amid Watson’s struggles this season, there have been questions about a possible quarterback switch in Cleveland, though Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has said the team isn’t benching Watson.

“We’re not changing quarterbacks,” Stefanski said this week, via NFL.com . “We need to play better, I need to coach better. That’s really what it is.”

Through five games this season for the Browns (1-4), Watson has completed 60.2 percent of his passes for 852 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions, while also rushing for 131 yards and a rushing score on 25 carries.

–Photo courtesy Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

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