Texans GM Nick Caserio: No 'more clarity today' about status of Deshaun Watson

Almost immediately after the Houston Texans confirmed the firing of first-year head coach David Culley on Thursday, analysts and fans linked former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores with the Houston gig. Miami shockingly parted ways with Flores on "Black Monday," and it's been suggested he could be interested in working with Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson, who didn't play a down for the Texans during the 2021 campaign following his offseason request for a trade and amid the 22 lawsuits and 10 criminal complaints alleging acts of sexual assault and misconduct by Watson.

Those associated with the Texans repeatedly said throughout the fall they had no meaningful update on Watson's status, specifically after the 26-year-old remained with Houston as the November trade deadline came and went. It appears that's still the case. 

Per Sarah Barshop of ESPN, Texans general manager Nick Caserio told reporters Friday there's no "more clarity today than there was here previously" as it pertains to Watson's future. It's widely believed the NFL will either suspend Watson or place him on the commissioner's exempt list at some point even if his camp settles the lawsuits and he isn't formally charged, and such uncertainties about his availability for the 2022 season allegedly prevented the Dolphins from trading for his services before the deadline. 

Flores, meanwhile, raised eyes in late August when he said his employer at that time had "a high standard for the people we have in the organization" and that he wanted "people with high character throughout the building." Whether or not he was referencing Watson with those comments is unclear.