Browns reportedly 'bracing' for eight-game suspension for QB Deshaun Watson

It was reported earlier on Tuesday that Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson could ultimately be suspended for anywhere between "two to eight games" of the 2022 NFL season regarding allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. It was also said that there was "no indication" at that time that disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson would make her ruling on the matter before the end of this week. 

A new update emerged hours before the start of the MLB All-Star Game. 

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported Tuesday afternoon that a league source claims the Browns "privately are bracing for an eight-game suspension of Watson." Florio added that this "only means that the team has come to the subjective conclusion, one it would never admit publicly, that it expects to not have Watson for eight of 17 games in 2022." 

The NFL reportedly wants Watson suspended indefinitely and made ineligible to play for at least the entire upcoming campaign, while the NFL Players Association argued against any ban and allegedly would fight a full-season suspension in federal court, if necessary. Cleveland, meanwhile, hasn't shown any sign it wants to acquire an upgrade over backup Jacoby Brissett and is presumably comfortable with starting Brissett for up to eight games this fall if Watson isn't available. 

Watson has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and had two grand juries decline to indict him, while his legal team reached settlements with 20 of 24 plaintiffs who sued him.