A woman accusing Deshaun Watson of sexual assault may meet with the NFL in the coming weeks, according to her lawyer. Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing the woman who filed a civil lawsuit in Houston on Monday, stated that his client will soon speak with the league, which is investigating the Cleveland Browns quarterback’s off-field behavior.
Buzbee, who has previously represented two dozen women in lawsuits against Watson, mentioned that he possesses a video and has two additional witnesses for the case. The lawsuit alleges that Watson, who faced an 11-game suspension at the start of the 2022 season over earlier accusations, may face further discipline if he failed to disclose the incident during previous league inquiries. The alleged incident occurred in 2020.
The woman, referred to as “Jane Doe” in the lawsuit, claims that Watson “roughly sexually assaulted her for several minutes” during a dinner date at her apartment.
The Cleveland Browns have continued to support Watson, who is set to start against Jacksonville on Sunday. Coach Kevin Stefanski indicated that he does not plan to bench Watson despite the new allegations.
Watson, who was surprised by the lawsuit, has denied the woman’s claims. “I strongly deny” the woman’s assertions, Watson said, adding that the lawsuit “caught me by surprise.”
Watson acknowledged that he will likely speak with the NFL’s investigators but has not considered the possibility of another suspension. “I haven’t had any thought, honestly,” Watson said. “My focus is figuring out Jacksonville’s plan on defense and focusing on my craft to be the best quarterback I can be on Sunday for this team. That’s something that the NFL has to do on their time and I have to focus on what’s in front of me right now.”
The Browns acquired Watson by trading three first-round picks to the Texans. Watson initially declined Cleveland’s offer but eventually agreed to the trade after the team proposed a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract.
Watson has made just 13 starts over the past three seasons. His 2023 season ended prematurely after six starts due to a broken bone in his right shoulder, requiring surgery.
