Browns’ Deshaun Watson denies new sexual assault claim and will play on Sunday

Deshaun Watson’s attorney said on Wednesday the quarterback “strongly denies” the allegations made by a woman who said the Cleveland Browns quarterback sexually assaulted her four years ago when he played for Houston.
On Monday, the woman in Texas filed a civil lawsuit that says Watson forced himself on her at her apartment four years ago. She is seeking in excess of $1m in damages.
The NFL is looking into the lawsuit to see if Watson, who was suspended for 11 games in 2022, has violated the league’s personal conduct policy. Watson was previously accused of sexual misconduct by two dozen women for his behavior during massage therapy sessions while he played for the Houston Texans. There are also questions about whether the allegations could endanger Watson’s contract with the Browns.
Criminal charges were never brought against Watson, but in the summer of 2022, he reached settlements in 23 of the 24 civil lawsuits that he was facing.
“Deshaun strongly denies the allegations in the Jane Doe lawsuit filed Monday,” attorney Rusty Hardin said in a statement distributed by the team. “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. In the meantime, Deshaun is going to focus his energy and concentration on football.”
Before practice on Wednesday, Watson said he had been unaware of the allegations until this week. “I found out exactly whenever everyone else found out,” Watson said.
Meanwhile, the plaintiff’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, fired back at Hardin’s statement, saying he contacted Hardin 10 months ago seeking a resolution and that Watson was aware of the woman’s claims.
“We knew this case was the most serious and egregious case brought against Watson to date and our client, who is rightly traumatized by these events, wanted to attempt a private resolution,” Buzbee said in a statement on Instagram. “We thought that was the best approach given the media storm that occurred surrounding the legion of other claims.
“Unfortunately, Watson’s team or maybe his lawyers couldn’t or wouldn’t give this case the attention it was due. … Watson was well aware of this victim and her claims immediately after it occurred and Watson was again reminded back when we filed the first lawsuit for the other multiple victims.”
According to this week’s lawsuit, Watson met the woman at a local restaurant and suggested that the two go out on a date at a shopping mall. The woman didn’t want to be in public with Watson, leading her to propose dinner at her apartment.
Before Watson arrived at her residence, the woman alleges that he called her and yelled at her because he struggled to find where she lived. The woman alleges when Watson arrived she went to the bathroom. She claims when she returned to her bedroom, Watson was “completely naked on her bed, lying face down on his stomach.”
The lawsuit says Watson then demanded a massage, motioning toward his knees and groin. The woman said she was not a masseuse, but Watson proceeded to ask her if there was anything she would rather do instead. The suit states that the woman didn’t have time to answer before Watson “partially disrobed Jane Doe and penetrated her vagina without consent, implicit or explicit.” After being sexually assaulted for “several minutes,” the woman was able to break free from Watson, and she grabbed a heavy object to protect herself.
Watson was “enraged” as he “stormed out of” the woman’s apartment to end the alleged interaction, the suit states.
The suit also says the woman “has suffered severe mental anguish as a result of this incident,” and “experiences nervous breakdowns and difficulty sleeping.”
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Watson will play on Sunday in Jacksonville. Stefanski said he did not consider benching the QB in light of the allegations.
The 28-year-old played poorly in Cleveland’s season opener, his first game since undergoing shoulder surgery in November, and was booed by Browns fans. Watson has only made 13 starts for the Browns since they signed him to a $230m contract in 2022 after trading three first-round draft picks to the Texans.