Deshaun Watson apologizes to 'women that I have impacted'

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Browns' Deshaun Watson publicly apologizes to 'women that I have impacted in this situation'

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 8/12/22

Appeals officer and former New Jersey Attorney General Peter C. Harvey announced no ruling in the case involving Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson that would have made him unavailable to play in Friday's preseason opener at the Jacksonville Jaguars over backup Jacoby Brissett.

The NFL is asking Harvey to ban Watson for an entire year after disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson recommended a six-game suspension. For a video shared by the Browns, the 26-year-old spoke with media personality Aditi Kinkhabwala on Friday and expressed remorse for his actions.

"Look, I want to say that I’m truly sorry to all of the women that I have impacted in this situation," Watson remarked, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "The decisions that I made in my life that put me in this position I would definitely like to have back, but I want to continue to move forward and grow and learn and show that I am a true person of character and I am going to keep pushing forward."

Deshaun spoke with Aditi Kinkhabwala ahead of starting tonight's game in Jacksonville. pic.twitter.com/9kuHxI9ULh
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 12, 2022

Watson had repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, had two grand juries decline to indict him on criminal charges and had his legal team settle 23 of 24 civil lawsuits brought against him. It was reported earlier on Friday that the NFL and the NFL Players Association could ultimately come to a settlement before Harvey announces a decision after it was claimed on Thursday that Watson "would accept an eight-game suspension and $5M fine to avoid missing the entire season."

Neither Harvey nor the Browns made Watson inactive on Friday evening. Cleveland will next host the Philadelphia Eagles on Aug. 21, and the signal-caller's status for that matchup may not be known before next Friday.

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