Deshaun Watson continues to find ways to get into headlines for all the wrong reasons.
On the field, the Browns quarterback delivered a dud in Week 1. Watson was far from impressive in his 2024 debut, completing just 53.3 percent of his passes while throwing two interceptions in a blowout loss to the Cowboys.
Off the field, the Cleveland member is now at the center of another lawsuit. Watson is being accused of sexual assault in battery during an incident in October 2020 while he was a member of the Texans.
The news comes just two years after Watson was forced to serve a six-game suspension as a result of a previous investigation into multiple accusations of sexual assault.
Here is what to know about the latest lawsuit involving Watson.
MORE: Breaking down Deshaun Watson’s record contract with Browns
Deshaun Watson lawsuit
A new civil lawsuit was filed in Houston on Monday that accused Watson of sexual assault and battery in October 2020.
According to the lawsuit, the alleged actions have been brought to light by an anonymous woman referred to as “Jane Doe” in court documents.
The woman alleges that she met Watson at a Houston restaurant and bar. He managed to get her phone number and the two set up a date. Initially, Watson wanted to meet at the Houston Galleria, but the woman was reluctant to go out in public, instead electing to have a dinner date at her apartment.
On the evening of the date, the lawsuit states that Watson was having a hard time finding the woman’s residence. She said Watson began “aggressively yelling and screaming at her on the phone,” saying he didn’t “have time for this.”
“When Watson finally arrived at Doe’s apartment, Doe had not finished putting on makeup, so she invited Watson in to have a seat in her living room while she finished getting ready,” the lawsuit stated. “As she was putting on makeup in her bathroom, Doe left the bathroom door open and attempted a conversation with Watson, trying to ease the tension from his angry outburst. Jane Doe quickly began to believe she was talking to herself because Watson wasn’t responding.
“Jane Doe came out of her bathroom to investigate Watson’s silence and shockingly found him completely naked on her bed, lying face-down on his stomach. While Jane Doe stood there in shock, Watson turned his head and aggressively insisted that she massage him, gesturing to his buttocks. Jane Doe asked if Watson meant he wanted her to massage his back, but Watson indicated that it was his buttocks he wanted massaged.
“Jane Doe was at this point in the encounter terrified. She was in her small apartment with a much larger man, and she was still reeling from Watson’s outburst and aggression on the phone. Doe thus tried to appease Watson by rubbing his back, rather than his buttocks. Watson began insisting, again, that she focus on his glutes. Seemingly frustrated that Doe would only rub his back, Watson then turned over, revealing an erection. Watson continued to demand that Jane Doe massage him, gesturing from his knees to his groin. Jane Doe froze in fear, unsure of how to refuse Watson’s advances without jeopardizing her safety. Confused and scared, she reiterated to Watson that she wasn’t a masseuse. Watson asked her what she wanted to do instead.
“Before Jane Doe could answer, Watson grabbed Jane Doe’s leg and positioned her so that she was lying down. Watson then partially disrobed Jane Doe and penetrated her vagina without consent, implicit or explicit. Jane Doe felt paralyzed, unsure if she should risk her safety by trying to stop Watson or endure his assault. Watson roughly sexually assaulted Jane Doe for several minutes in a ‘missionary position’ before grabbing her and flipping her over. Watson continued to assault Doe aggressively from behind. Jane Doe finally gathered the courage and strength to escape Watson. Jane Doe quickly ran to her dresser to grab a heavy piece of décor for self-defense, and yelled at Watson [to] get out of her apartment. Enraged, Watson stormed out of Jane Doe’s apartment.”
The NFL declined to comment on the matter, and a Browns spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to ESPN.
This case is not the same as the previous lawsuit in 2021 against Watson, where more than 20 women accused him of sexual assault after they were hired to give him a massage.
