Report: NFL officially begins meetings with Deshaun Watson

It was reported on Monday that the in-person meetings would begin sometime this week. It was simultaneously reported that Watson plans to jet off to the Bahamas with other members of the Browns offense.

Watson still faces 22 civil lawsuits from women who have accused him of sexual misconduct during massage sessions while he was a member of the Houston Texans. While he has maintained that he did nothing wrong, the NFL will likely seek disciplinary action if it is found he broke the league's code of conduct.

The belief is that meeting with Watson directly is the final stage of the investigation process. There is no word, however, whether the league will make a ruling before the 22 civil suits are resolved.

Watson sat out the entire 2021 season because the Texans wouldn't honor his request for a trade and because his legal issues made him an unattractive trade piece to most teams. The Browns signed Watson to a five-year $230 million deal in March 2022.