Browns’ Deshaun Watson denies new sexual assault claim and will play on Sunday

Deshaun Watson’s attorney said Wednesday that the quarterback “strongly denies” allegations from a woman who claimed the Cleveland Browns quarterback sexually assaulted her four years ago when he played for Houston.

On Monday the woman was in Texas a civil lawsuit filed that says Watson forced himself on her in her apartment four years ago. She is seeking more than $1 million in damages.

The NFL is investigating the lawsuit to see if Watson, who was suspended for 11 games in 2022, violated the league’s personal conduct policy. Watson was previously accused of sexual misconduct by two dozen women for his behavior during massage therapy sessions while playing for the Houston Texans. There are also questions about whether the allegations could jeopardize Watson’s contract with the Browns.

No criminal charges were ever filed against Watson, but by the summer of 2022 he had reached settlements in 23 of the 24 civil lawsuits he faced.

“Deshaun vehemently denies the allegations in the Jane Doe lawsuit filed on Monday,” attorney Rusty Hardin said in a statement released by the team. “We have asked him to refrain from further comment as this case moves through the courts, but we are confident he will ultimately be exonerated.

“We will be prepared to defend this case in court at the appropriate time, but we do not intend to conduct our defense in the media. We ask that people be patient as the legal process plays out. In the meantime, Deshaun will focus his energy and concentration on football.”

Watson will speak to reporters before practice on Wednesday.

According to the lawsuitWatson met the woman at a local restaurant and suggested the two go on a date at a mall. The woman did not want to be in public with Watson, prompting her to suggest they have dinner at her apartment.

Before Watson arrived, the woman claims he called her and yelled at her because he was having trouble finding where she lived. The woman claims that when Watson arrived, she went to the bathroom. She claims that when she returned to her bedroom, Watson was “completely naked on her bed, face down on his stomach.”

The lawsuit alleges that Watson then demanded a massage, pointing to his knees and groin. The woman said she was not a massage therapist, but Watson asked her if there was anything she would rather do. The lawsuit alleges that the woman didn’t have time to respond before Watson “partially undressed Jane Doe and penetrated her vagina without consent, implied or expressed.” After being sexually assaulted for “several minutes,” the woman was able to break away from Watson and grabbed a heavy object to protect herself.

Watson was “enraged” when he “stormed” out of the woman’s apartment to end the alleged interaction, the complaint said.

The lawsuit also states that the woman has “suffered severe mental anguish as a result of this incident” and “is experiencing nervous breakdowns and sleep problems.”

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Watson will play Sunday in Jacksonville. Stefanski said he did not consider benching the QB in light of the allegations.

The 28-year-old played poorly in Cleveland’s season opener, his first game since undergoing shoulder surgery in November, and was booed by Browns fans. Watson has made just 13 starts for the Browns since they gave him a $230 million contract in 2022 after trading three first-round draft picks to the Texans.