Report: Texans QB Deshaun Watson won’t attend OTAs, still wants to be traded
The NFL is still investigating Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson as he faces 22 civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault or misconduct. However, he has not been suspended by the league and is eligible to report to OTAs in preparation for the 2021 campaign.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Watson will not report to OTAs as he plans to skip the voluntary offseason program. Pelissero adds that the star quarterback still wants to be traded.
Watson has reportedly wanted a trade from the Texans since early this offseason. According to text messages obtained by Sports Illustrated, the sexual misconduct and assault lawsuits against the 25-year-old were in the works before he requested a trade from the club.
The Texans have reiterated that they have no plans to trade Watson, though they might be preparing for a future without him after selecting Stanford quarterback Davis Mills in this year’s draft and signing Tyrod Taylor in free agency.
Part of the reason Houston has not engaged in trade discussions is because of the lawsuits, which could lead to Watson landing on the commissioner’s exempt list.
Even if Watson is never criminally charged for his alleged misconduct, he could still face a lengthy NFL suspension, which could deter teams from giving up a lot to acquire him. One thing appears to be almost certain, though. He wants to play elsewhere and will hold out until he gets what he wants.
