The NFL will not fine or suspend Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson again over the latest sexual assault allegations against him.
“The matter is closed,” a league spokesperson told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Friday. “There was insufficient evidence to support a finding of a violation of the Personal Conduct Policy.”
As a result, the remainder of Watson’s contract is no longer in danger of being voided. He has two years left on the fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million contract he signed with the Browns in 2022 after being acquired from the Houston Texans. He will be paid $46 million for each of the final two years of the deal.
Watson, 29, was charged with assault and battery in a civil lawsuit filed in early September. Attorney Tony Buzbee said his client would meet with the NFL to discuss the allegation and claimed to have “relevant” video.
The case was settled in October. Buzbee told the Associated Press that the settlement was confidential. That likely means the NFL failed to get evidence from Watson’s accuser and effectively ended the investigation, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.
Watson was given an 11-game suspension and $5 million fine by the NFL in 2022 for violating the league’s personal conduct policy regarding 23 civil lawsuits filed against him by massage therapists. Those lawsuits centered on sexual misconduct that occurred during dates while Watson played for the Texans. The lawsuit filed in September was separate from those other proceedings.
The seven-year veteran suffered a torn Achilles injury in the Browns’ Week 7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and is out for the remainder of the 2024-2025 season. He is expected to recover and be ready to play next season.
“We are pleased to put this matter behind us so Deshaun can focus on recovering from his injury and preparing for next season,” Watson’s attorney Rusty Hardin said in a statement via Cleveland.com.
