Just one game into Deshaun Watson’s third season with the Browns, things are already taking a negative turn.
After discussing his underwhelming performance in the season opener, the Cleveland quarterback faced questions on Wednesday about new sexual assault allegations in a civil lawsuit.
On Monday, a woman from Texas accused Watson of sexual assault and battery from October 2020, when he was with Houston. Watson stated he only learned about the allegations when they were reported in the media.
“I found out exactly when everyone else did,” Watson said, while he is expected to play on Sunday at Jacksonville.
The lawsuit alleges that a woman, identified as “Jane Doe,” claims Watson “roughly sexually assaulted” her for several minutes during a dinner at her apartment.
During his weekly press conference, Watson expressed surprise at the allegations and said he was not aware if the woman’s lawyer had contacted his legal team 10 months ago, as claimed by her attorney, Tony Buzbee.
“I haven’t heard anything,” Watson said before practice. “I haven’t talked to anybody, so I’m not sure. I’m not aware of that.”
Watson’s statement came shortly after his lawyer, Rusty Hardin, issued a statement saying Watson “strongly denies” the claims in the lawsuit.
The NFL announced on Tuesday that it will review the case to see if Watson breached the league’s personal conduct policy.
Watson was previously suspended for 11 games in 2022 and fined $5 million after an independent arbiter looked into accusations of sexual misconduct and assault from more than two dozen women during massage therapy sessions.
This came months after the Browns signed him to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract.
Hardin mentioned that he and Watson are “confident he will be cleared of any wrongdoing. We will be ready to defend ourselves in court when the time comes, but we don’t plan to address this case in the media. We ask for patience as the legal process unfolds.”
Watson did not repeat his denial but instead supported Hardin’s statement as reflecting “exactly how I’m feeling and what we’re going through.”
While Watson spoke, Buzbee responded on Instagram, saying he had reached out to Hardin about settling the case.
“We knew this was the most serious case against Watson so far, and our client, who is understandably traumatized, wanted to try for a private resolution,” Buzbee said. “Unfortunately, Watson’s team or perhaps his lawyers didn’t give this case the attention it deserved.”
Buzbee, who has represented many of the other women in previous lawsuits, claimed that Watson was aware of the victim’s claims.
“Watson knew about this victim and her allegations right after the incident,” Buzbee said. “He was reminded when we filed the initial lawsuit for the other victims. He is fully aware of what happened. This case is strong, and we will pursue it vigorously now that it’s filed.”
Buzbee also mentioned that he has since heard from Hardin and his team and from NFL counsel, and he will respond in due course.
Watson had settled 23 out of 24 civil lawsuits before his suspension in 2022. Depending on the NFL’s findings, he might face another suspension but said he’s not focused on potential penalties.
“My focus is on studying Jacksonville’s defense and improving my performance to be the best quarterback I can be on Sunday,” he said. “The NFL will handle their part, and I need to concentrate on what’s right in front of me.”
