Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is once again denying sexual assault allegations following the filing of a new lawsuit, even after previously settling 23 sexual misconduct cases connected to his time with the Houston Texans.
In response to the latest claim, Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, issued a statement firmly rejecting the accusations. “Deshaun strongly denies the allegations in the Jane Doe lawsuit filed Monday,” Hardin said in a statement provided to DailyMail.com. “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.”
Hardin added that Watson’s legal team is prepared to defend him in court, but they do not intend to argue their case in the public sphere. “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.”
The latest lawsuit, filed by a Jane Doe, accuses Watson of sexually assaulting her at her apartment in Texas four years ago. The woman is seeking more than $1 million in damages. Despite these allegations and Watson’s underwhelming performance in the Cleveland Browns’ Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has confirmed that Watson will remain the team’s starting quarterback.
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According to TMZ, the lawsuit details the alleged assault, claiming that Watson stripped naked during a massage session and “demanded” the woman massage his buttocks. The woman also alleges that Watson grabbed her and committed acts of sexual assault during the encounter.
This new accusation adds to the already long list of claims against Watson, many of which stemmed from his time as a star quarterback with the Houston Texans. In 2021, Watson faced a wave of lawsuits—26 in total—accusing him of various forms of sexual misconduct. Although he has settled 23 of these cases, three others remain unresolved and are expected to go to civil trial.
While Watson has denied all wrongdoing and has not faced criminal charges, the NFL did take disciplinary action against him. In 2022, the league suspended Watson for 11 games and imposed a $5 million fine for violating its personal conduct policy. Despite these legal and professional setbacks, Watson’s NFL career continued to thrive in terms of contracts. That same year, the Cleveland Browns traded six draft picks, including three first-rounders, to acquire Watson from the Texans. The Browns then signed Watson to a lucrative five-year, $230 million contract—all of which is guaranteed. Notably, the deal was structured in a way that backloaded his salary, minimizing the financial impact of his 2022 suspension.
Watson’s off-field issues have cast a shadow over his on-field performance. The latest lawsuit comes on the heels of a tough week for the quarterback, who revealed that his father and a former teammate both passed away in the days leading up to the Browns’ season opener. During the game against the Cowboys, Watson struggled, completing just 24 of 45 passes for 169 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions.
This latest legal battle will add further scrutiny to Watson’s already controversial career. Prior allegations include claims that Watson forced two women to perform oral sex, ejaculated on three women, and forcibly kissed another. Eighteen other women have accused him of inappropriate touching during massage sessions, according to court documents.
Although two Texas grand juries declined to bring criminal charges against Watson, the civil cases have kept his legal troubles in the public eye.
As Watson continues to deny all allegations, he faces both the pressures of the legal system and the expectations of being a high-profile NFL quarterback.
Despite the ongoing scrutiny, the Browns remain committed to Watson as their starter, though both his legal battles and on-field performance will be closely watched in the weeks to come.
