Deshaun Watson suspension news: Latest updates, timeline for NFL's appeal before 2022 season

Zac Al-Khateeb

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Deshaun Watson suspension news: Latest updates, timeline for NFL's appeal before 2022 season image

The NFL has decided to challenge Judge Sue L. Robinson's ruling that Deshaun Watson face a six-game suspension.

Robinson issued a relatively short sentence for the Browns quarterback, who is accused of sexually assaulting or otherwise touching, without their consent, upward of 60 women who provided him with massage therapy while he was with the Texans.

Though he was not criminally indicted, Watson faced 24 civil suits, settling out of court in all but one. Though Robinson ruled the NFL provided significant evidence that Watson violated the league's personal conduct policy, her ruling reflected what she believed was established precedent by the league itself.

The league's challenge sets up commissioner Roger Goodell to appoint another arbiter in the case, one who is more likely to provide a suspension more in line with the league's preferred length. Should the arbiter tack on a significant number of games to Watson's suspension, it could set up a lengthy battle in federal court.

DeCOURCY: Magnitude of Browns' brainless deal for Deshaun Watson coming into focus

The Sporting News is following the latest updates on the NFL's suspension appeal, and whether Watson will be able to play at all in 2022:

Deshaun Watson news: Latest updates on NFL suspension appeal

Thursday, Aug. 18

11:50 a.m.: Per multiple reports, the NFL and NFLPA have agreed to a settlement out of court that will see Watson suspended 11 games — five more than Robinson's six-game ruling — and incur a $5 million fine for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

As part of the settlement, Watson must also submit to evaluation by behavioral experts and follow their treatment program.

"Deshaun has committed to doing the hard work on himself that is necessary for his return to the NFL," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. "This settlement requires compliance with a professional evaluation and treatment plan, a significant fine, and a more substantial suspension. We are grateful to judge Robinson and Peter Harvey for their efforts in addressing these matters, which laid the foundation for reaching this conclusion."

Thursday, Aug. 11

8:32 p.m.: The Associated Press reports Watson and his camp would be willing to accept an eight-game suspension and $5 million fine in an apparent compromise with the NFL after previously failing to agree on a 12-game, $10 million fine.

In the same report, the AP claims the NFL still is looking for an indefinite suspension of at least 17 games and a "significant fine over $5 million."

2:23 p.m.: Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports the Browns may consider trading for 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in the event Watson's suspension is increased. Cleveland previously had indicated it was uninterested in the signal-caller, suggesting the team is preparing for a longer suspension from the NFL after appeal.

Tuesday, Aug. 9

4:25 p.m.: Goodell makes his first public comments on the NFL's appeal of the Watson suspension, defending it by saying "we've seen the evidence," which was continuously supported by Robinson. Per Mark Maska of The Washington Post:

10:55 a.m.: Maska reports Browns owner Jimmy Haslam will "respect and honor" the appeals process for Watson's suspension.

Monday, Aug. 8

The NFL has backed off the idea that an injunction would allow Watson to play in Week 1 of the NFL season, per Charles Robinson.

Friday, Aug. 5

The NFLPA announced it had filed its reply to the NFL's appeal on Friday. It had until midnight to file a response.

Thursday, Aug. 4

After indicating he wouldn't be the one to hear the NFL's appeal, Roger Goodell selected a designee to hear the case.

ProFootballTalk reports Goodell will not hear the appeal, instead appointing his own arbiter.

Ian Rapoport indicated on Thursday that Watson and the NFL could still negotiate a settlement, despite the appeal.

…But it appears Watson has no interest in a settlement. According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, the league and Watson engaged in settlement talks in recent days, but neither side felt like they got close. The league wanted 12 games, while Watson wanted 6-to-8.

Wednesday, Aug. 3

The NFL announces it will appeal Robinson's ruling, saying Goodell would decide whether to hear the appeal himself or appoint another arbiter. As noted by Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, any response by the NFLPA to the appeal must come within two business days. Moreover, Goodell or the arbiter's ruling will not be subject to appeal, meaning it will be final inasmuch the CBA is concerned.

Now, Watson's suspension and any subsequent fine could be way worse had he taken the reported settlement offered by the NFL.

So, what's next?

MORE: Deshaun Watson suspension: Sue L. Robinson explains decision of 6-game ban for Browns QB despite 'egregious' behavior

Monday, Aug. 1

Judge Sue L. Robinson ruled for a six-game suspension for Watson, well short of the NFL's preferred indefinite suspension of at least a year.

In her ruling, Robinson determined Watson violated the NFL's personal conduct policy, noting his "pattern of conduct is more egregious than any before ruled by the NFL." She also noted that the league had provided ample evidence that the Watson's accusers did not consent to being touched.

Despite that, she deemed his violations were related to "non-violent sexual conduct," and that the league's established precedent of similar suspensions (four games for Ben Roethlisberger in 2010, six for Ezekiel Elliott in 2017) limited the length of the suspension to six games.

She also claimed the NFL was trying to enact a new conduct policy as opposed to the one agreed to in the NFL and NFLPA's collective bargaining agreement. By challenging her ruling, the NFL is saying there is no precedent for Watson's case, considering the scope of his sexual assault violations (as defined by the CBA).

Below is the reasoning for her ruling, in which she also ruled that Watson could only receive massages from team-appointed or -approved therapists.

The Browns released a statement in support of Watson, adding that their newly acquired quarterback is "remorseful" of the situation. Watson, for what it is worth, has always maintained his innocence.

MORE: NFL appeals Deshaun Watson suspension: What's next for Roger Goodell, Browns & more after challenge of ruling

Sunday, July 31

7:45 p.m. ET: The NFLPA and Watson release a joint statement saying they will not appeal the initial ruling by Robinson, calling on the NFL to do the same.

8:40 p.m. ET: Dan Graziano of ESPN reports that the NFL and Watson's legal team engaged in talks to suspend him 12 games and fine him upward of $8 million. The compromise would have kept Watson from an indefinite suspension of at least a year, but the suspension length and additional fine — a result of Watson's backloaded contract in Cleveland — caused Watson and the NFLPA to reject the offer.

MORE: Deshaun Watson suspension, explained: Everything to know about NFL's punishment for Browns QB and what's next

Will Deshaun Watson play in Week 1?

The possibility exists, however slim, that Watson could be on the field in Week 1 if the NFL rules in favor of a longer suspension than Robinson initially applied to his case.

The only way for that to happen is for the NFLPA to challenge the NFL's ruling in federal court, in so doing requesting a temporary restraining order to the increased suspension. That would potentially allow for Watson to play in Week 1 while the case is handled in the courts. The NFLPA took a similar approach to both the Elliott and Tom Brady cases, though lost on both cases.

The question here isn't whether Watson would win in court, but whether the timing of litigation would allow him to be on the field at any point in the season. As noted by Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk, such a scenario might be too difficult to achieve, on two counts:

  1. Robinson's six-game suspension, at minimum, becomes set in stone if the NFLPA does not file an appeal of the suspension by Thursday, which it did not.

  2. The NFL could file a first lawsuit in the same court district in which Brady and Elliott's cases were tried, where a precedent is set in favor of the league. That would make it more likely that the judge in charge of the case would not provide a restraining order for Watson.

Another factor to consider is whether any injunction would take place immediately, or would follow Robinson's six-game ruling.

Zac Al-Khateeb

Zac Al-Khateeb Photo

Zac Al-Khateeb has been part of The Sporting News team since 2015 after earning his Bachelor's (2013) and Master's (2014) degrees in journalism at the University of Alabama. Prior to joining TSN, he covered high school sports and general news in Alabama. A college sports specialist, Zac has been a voter for the Biletnikoff Award and Heisman Trophy since 2020.