Deshaun Watson Lawsuits Up To 16; Texans QB Denies Sexual Assault Claims

The growing number of lawsuits against Deshaun Watson is now up to 16. The Houston Texans quarterback has been accused of sexual assault or harassment by women who were allegedly hired to give him a massage.

The two latest lawsuits were filed Tuesday in Harris County, Texas regarding alleged incidents that occured in May and October of last year, CNN reports. Every accuser remains anonymous and is being represented by lawyer Tony Buzbee.

Accusations against Watson claim that he exposed himself or touched the women with his penis. In one lawsuit filed against Watson, a massage therapist accused him of forcing her to peform oral sex on him in December.

Some of Watson's accusers say he used Instagram to contact them about massage services. One lawsuit states that the plaintiff “believes Watson to be a serial predator,” according to CNN.

Watson denied any wrongdoing when he first learned that lawsuits would be filed less than two weeks ago. The NFL star has since hired attorney Rusty Hardin, who maintains Watson’s innocence.

“Opposing counsel has orchestrated a circus-like atmosphere by using social media to publicize 14 ‘Jane Doe’ lawsuits during the past seven days in a manner calculated to inflame the public and malign Deshaun's otherwise sterling reputation,” Hardin said in a statement Monday.

“In addition, the tactic of refusing our requests to confidentially provide the names of the plaintiffs so we can fully investigate their claims makes uncovering the truth extremely difficult. Anonymity is often necessary as a shield for victims but opposing counsel has used it as a sword to publicly humiliate Deshaun before the truth‑seeking process can even begin.”

Seven lawsuits were filed against Watson on Monday, all by women who claim the quarterback contacted them on social media. The alleged incidents from those lawsuits took place from April 2020 to as recently as this month.

Buzbee announced on his Instagram account that he was representing women who filed suit against Watson. The attorney has continued to update the public on social media.

“My first reaction is that there have been so many massage sessions from Instagram that Mr. Watson can’t keep track of them — recall he, on Twitter, initially criticized me and denied everything,” Buzbee said in a Facebook post Tuesday. “I can’t tell you how many people have stepped forward to report similar conduct or provide information. That info will be released, again in public filings — not in the media.”

Buzbee said Saturday that his team would be submitting affidavits and evidence from accusers to the Houston Police Department and the Houston District Attorney. A Houston Police spokesperson told CNN Monday that she couldn't say whether the department had received any such evidence.

The lawsuits come as Watson has been the subject of trade rumors, with several teams expressing an interest in acquiring his services. There was no immediate indication of how the allegations might affect his trade status.