(Cleveland) The NFL said Tuesday it is investigating the latest civil charge against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson to determine whether he violated the league’s personal conduct policy.
On Monday, a Texas woman accused Watson of sexual assault in 2020 while he was playing for the Houston Texans.
“We are reviewing the complaint and will review the matter under the personal conduct policy,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy said. “We are not looking at the commissioner’s exemption list because there have been no formal charges and the league’s review is just beginning.”
According to the complaint filed in Harris County, Texas, the woman alleged that Watson sexually coerced her during an incident at his apartment four years ago.
It’s the latest legal woe for Watson, who settled 23 of 24 lawsuits against him in 2022 after two dozen women accused him of sexual misconduct and harassment during massage therapy sessions.
Watson, 28, served an 11-game suspension from the NFL in 2022 for violating the league’s personal conduct policy stemming from those accusations. He was also fined $5 million and underwent independent counseling before being reinstated to the NFL.
The Browns traded five draft picks, including three first-round selections, to the Texans in 2022 to acquire Watson. The Browns then gave him a fully guaranteed $230 million contract. Cleveland released a statement Tuesday.
“We will respect the due process that our legal system affords regarding the recently filed civil complaint and we will follow the NFL’s guidelines in this matter,” the team said.
Watson was limited to just 13 starts due to his suspension and a shoulder injury that required surgery in 2023.
He played for the first time in 10 months last Sunday, completing 24 of 45 passes for 169 yards. He threw a touchdown pass and two interceptions in a 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The Browns will play the Jaguars in Jacksonville this week.