Texans’ Deshaun Watson doesn’t know if he’ll be placed on paid leave?

Houston Texans star quarterback Deshaun Watson reported for the start of training camp but only to avoid being fined and reportedly still wishes to be traded as he continues to face 22 lawsuits alleging acts of sexual assault and misconduct. 

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Watson still doesn’t know if he’ll be eligible to play for the Texans or any other team this fall.

Florio reports that Watson and his representatives have not yet heard if he will be placed on paid leave by either the Texans or the NFL. The 25-year-old has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has been linked with potential suitors such as the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos in trade rumors, and it was reported earlier on Monday that the Texans want a combination of five high draft picks and starting-caliber players in a trade for their top asset. 

It is, however, unlikely any team would trade for Watson without knowing if he’ll be sidelined via either the commissioner’s exempt list or a suspension. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network explained last Monday that nothing had really changed regarding Watson’s status, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter said during the draft that some around the league believe the signal-caller will not play for any team this season. 

Houston opens the preseason at the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 14, and it seems nobody knows, for sure, if Watson will be available to take the field that weekend. 

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