Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has successfully negotiated a settlement with the NFL that will allow him to play at least some part in the 2022 season.
As first reported by NFL reporter Joseph Pasteris, Watson will be suspended for the first 11 games of the regular season and will be fined $5 million. Watson’s fine will be donated to non-profit organizations combatting sexual assault, with the Browns and the NFL each contributing $1 million as well. The penalties were confirmed by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
Watson has also agreed to undergo mandatory evaluation and treatment by behavioral experts.
An 11-game suspension would allow Watson to be reinstated on Nov. 28. That would allow Watson to play all six December games, including three divisional games against Cincinnati, Baltimore and Pittsburgh. He would also be allowed to play in the playoffs if the Browns qualify.
The suspension is significantly longer than the initial six-game ban handed down by NFL arbitrator Sue L. Robinson. However, it is significantly better than the yearlong ban the NFL was seeking. The final agreement is essentially a compromise between what the NFL wanted and what Watson had reportedly proposed.
Watson faced sexual assault allegations from numerous masseuses stemming from his time with the Houston Texans, which led the league to seek strict discipline under the Personal Conduct Policy.
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