Will Deshaun Watson Play If He’s Traded?

The NFL still hasn’t decided whether Watson will be placed on paid leave if he is dealt to a new team

Quarterback Deshaun Watson walks the field during warmups with a towel on his head

Quarterback Deshaun Watson walks the field during warmups prior to a game.

By Evan Bleier

With all signs pointing to it being a matter of when, as opposed to if, the Houston Texans trade Deshaun Watson, the question still remains about whether the 26-year-old will be allowed to play once he is dealt to a new team.

According to ProFootballTalk, the NFL has yet to make up its mind about the matter.

Currently on paid leave per the discretion of the Texans, Watson could also be placed on paid leave by the NFL once he is moved to a new team that wants him to get on the field based on the sexual harassment allegations he is facing. Watson faces 22 civil complaints alleging sexual misconduct and 10 criminal complaints, but hasn’t been formally charged with any crime.

“We don’t know what the decision will be. The NFL doesn’t know what the decision will be. What we know is that the NFL will make a decision when a decision needs to be made,” per PFT. “The league has a delicate task when assessing whether Watson will be allowed to play. If he plays, the league will be accused of not taking the sexual misconduct allegations seriously. If he’s placed on paid leave, the league will be accused of shutting down a player who hasn’t been formally charged with any type of crime.”

Watson has a no-trade clause in his contract, so the Texans can only deal him to a team of his choosing. The star quarterback reportedly wants to go to the Dolphins, who fell to 1-6 with Sunday’s loss to the Falcons. Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa, who threw a career-high four touchdown passes against Atlanta to go along with two costly red-zone interceptions, would likely be a part of any Watson trade involving the Fins.

“It all depends on if your owner is the one saying, ‘I want you to do this,’ ” a longtime NFL exec told The Athletic about Miami dealing for Watson. “Owners tend to be not realistic about things. It still is really a crapshoot.”

The Carolina Panthers, who benched starting quarterback Sam Darnold yesterday in a loss after trading second-, fourth- and sixth-round draft picks to the New York Jets for him in April, are also sniffing around a deal for Watson, according to ESPN. The Denver Broncos are also a wild-card contender for Watson, per ESPN sources.

At least publicly, both the Dolphins and Panthers have stated they do not have any interest in Watson and are sticking with Tagovailoa and Darnold, respectively.

The NFL trade deadline is November 2 at 4 p.m. ET.

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