Deshaun Watson, the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, has been named in another lawsuit, this time by a woman from Texas who alleges that he sexually assaulted her in October 2020 after he sought a massage at her home.

This marks the 27^th lawsuit against Watson, with women reporting similar incidents of sexual misconduct related to massage requests. Out of the previous 26 suits, 23 were settled in 2022. As for the remaining three, one is still pending, another was withdrawn shortly after being filed in March 2021, and the last one is inactive at the moment.

The latest lawsuit was submitted on Monday by a woman identified as “Jane Doe,” who claims that the incident occurred during their first date at her home in Harris County, Texas, in October 2020.

Details of the new lawsuit against Watson

According to the lawsuit, after inviting Watson inside, Jane Doe went to the bathroom to finish getting ready. When she exited, she found Watson lying naked on her bed, face down.

“In shock, Jane Doe watched as Watson turned his head and aggressively demanded that she massage him while pointing at his buttocks,” the lawsuit claims.

Feeling frightened due to Watson’s size, she attempted to appease him by rubbing his back. The lawsuit alleges that Watson then turned over, showing an erection, and insisted she massage him from his knees to his groin.

“Confused and scared, she told Watson again that she was not a masseuse,” the lawsuit notes. “Watson then asked her what she wanted to do instead and before Jane Doe could respond, he grabbed her leg, moved her so she was lying down, partially disrobed her, and penetrated her without her consent. Jane Doe felt paralyzed, not knowing whether to defend herself or to endure the assault.”

Why is this lawsuit being filed now?

Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, was not available for immediate comments. It is unclear if Jane Doe contacted law enforcement, but her lawsuit indicates her hesitance to do so. It also describes the rationale behind filing this lawsuit now, highlighting a five-year statute of limitations.

The suit explains that Jane Doe was shocked by the assault, recognized Watson, and feared that reporting would lead to personal attacks and humiliation. After other women publicly accused Watson in March 2021, Jane Doe felt empowered but was discouraged after witnessing their treatment at the hands of Watson’s defense team and the media.

“To make matters worse, law enforcement did not hold Watson accountable for his disgraceful actions,” the lawsuit states. “Jane Doe took time to gather the courage to come forward, initially attempting to resolve matters privately with Watson. Those attempts failed.”

The NFL has no comment

Watson, now 28, has not faced any criminal charges in connection to these allegations. Hardin has stated that Watson occasionally had consensual sexual encounters during massage sessions but denies any wrongdoing. The NFL conducted its investigation and suspended Watson for 11 games in 2022. It is yet unknown if this new lawsuit will lead to further disciplinary actions, considering the alleged incident occurred prior to his suspension.

Of the 27 lawsuits filed, 25 describe events from 2020 when Watson was part of the Houston Texans, while the other two recount incidents from early 2021.

The NFL has chosen not to comment on this latest civil lawsuit.

Out of the previous 26 lawsuits, only two explicitly charged Watson with sexual assault, while the rest involved different types of sexual misconduct, such as forced touching.

This new case is represented by Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, who has represented all but one of the women who have brought lawsuits in Harris County, Texas.

“This is a very serious matter,” Buzbee asserted in a statement to YSL News Sports. “We will pursue this case with the same vigor as we did with the others. We are seeking a jury trial. Regarding specific details of the case, we believe the lawsuit speaks for itself.”

Follow journalist Brent Schrotenboer on Twitter @Schrotenboer. Y