Deshaun Watson Faces Fresh Lawsuit Amid NFL Review

Deshaun Watson faces a new sexual assault allegation as the NFL reviews the case against the Cleveland Browns quarterback. A woman filed a civil lawsuit in Houston, Texas on Monday seeking $1 million (£764,000) in damages for an alleged incident that occurred during a date in October 2020. The NFL stated that Watson will not face immediate suspension since there are no criminal charges and their review is still in its early stages.

The Browns have announced they will “respect the due process” and adhere to the NFL’s guidelines regarding the matter. Previously, in August 2022, Watson was suspended for 11 games without pay and fined $5 million following an investigation into multiple sexual misconduct allegations. These accusations involved inappropriate behavior and sexual assault during massage sessions between March 2020 and March 2021.

Deshaun Watson denied these claims, and two grand juries concluded there was insufficient evidence to bring charges. He later settled with 23 of the 24 women involved in the summer of 2022. Watson, who moved from the Houston Texans to the Browns in March 2022 on a five-year contract worth a record $230 million (£174.4 million), played in the Browns’ season opener against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

The latest lawsuit adds to the ongoing scrutiny surrounding his off-field conduct as the NFL continues to evaluate the situation.