Will Deshaun Watson play on Week 13 against the Texans?
Deshaun Watson has complied with suspension terms and is now eligible to play. Will he replace Brissett in Week 13 against his old team, the Houston Texans?
Deshaun Watson is officially back.
The Cleveland Browns quarterback has complied with the terms of his 11-game suspension, according to the NFL, and is now eligible to play his first game of the season next weekend.
The Week 13 game would be against his former team, the Houston Texans, on Sunday, marking exactly 700 days since he last played in a regular-season game with Houston ( Jan. 3, 2021.)
Watson’s impending return saw starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who has been the Browns’ starter under center in Watson’s absence, make the last of his 11 starts on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Brissett has played consistently with the Browns and has risen to the expectations this season. He has become one of the most respected QBs in the League, focusing on himself and his team throughout all the Watson background noise.
Why was Watson suspended?
Watson was suspended for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy by committing sexual assault and other inappropriate sexual misconduct on massage therapists, as defined by the NFL. He was accused by more than two dozen women and agreed to settle 23 of the 24 lawsuits against him in the summer.
Two other women filed criminal complaints against the quarterback but did not sue him.
Watson was also fined $5 million by the League and has had to undergo a mandatory treatment program.
The 27-year-old has repeatedly stood his ground, denying any wrongdoing. He has not spoken publicly yet since his suspension was announced.
Cleveland traded for Watson in March, sending the Texans three first-round draft picks. The Browns also signed Watson to a five-year deal worth $230 million guaranteed, the richest contract in NFL history.
Watson has been back at the Browns’ training facility since Oct. 10, and returned to practice with the team on Nov. 16.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he will become the sixth quarterback in the last 15 seasons to make his debut against the team he last played for, as well as the third to do it in the 2022 season, joining Baker Mayfield and Russell Wilson.