The Athletic reports that the Cleveland Browns have not discussed benching Deshaun Watson because of his on and off-the-field issues.
In Week 1, Watson was 24-45 for 169 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He was sacked six times. The reporting indicates the Browns have a "strong belief" that Watson can return to his Houston Texans form, something that has not happened since the Browns traded for Watson in March 2022.
Watson takes the field on Sunday against Jacksonville, a team he has never lost to in his NFL career (6-0), amid a host of injuries for the Cleveland Browns on both sides of the ball, including the latest to Myles Garrett. Though he is focused on football, the NFL is investigating the latest civil suit against him by plaintiff Jane Doe.
CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones said that it boils down to whether the NFL finds the behaviors in this case, consistent with his previous cases for which Watson reached a settlement with the NFL in August 2022 for an 11-game suspension, $5 million fine, and participation in a treatment program. Per that settlement, he could not be disciplined for anything arising from "same or similar conduct."
Will the NFL deem this as "same or similar conduct?" The league's investigation will include talking to the victim in October, and her attorney Tony Buzbee said there is "pertinent video" and two witnesses. It is customary in NFL investigations for the player to be interviewed near the end of the process so there is no date or timeline for when the league will speak with him.
If the NFL does not find it to be "same or similar conduct," Watson could be punished again. And the Browns could have just cause, if they chose to do so, to get out of the contract except for the dead cap money.
There are a lot of moving parts in the case with the civil suit and NFL investigation so it is premature to predict how or when this issue will be resolved.
