Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is facing yet another civil lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct, which was filed on Monday in Texas. The lawsuit raises questions about whether Watson violated the terms of his August 2022 settlement with the NFL, which resulted in an 11-game suspension and a hefty fine.

Sources close to the situation have revealed that the allegations in the latest civil lawsuit may not be covered under Watson's previous reinstatement agreement. If the NFL finds that Watson has violated their personal conduct policy, he could potentially face further punishment, including additional fines or suspensions.

Watson, who previously settled 23 out of 24 civil lawsuits in 2022, all of which alleged similar sexual misconduct during massage sessions, has consistently maintained his innocence. Notably, he has never been criminally charged, and two Texas grand juries declined to indict him two years ago.

The latest lawsuit was filed by a Jane Doe and is represented by the same lawyer who represented the majority of the accusers two years ago. The lawsuit alleges forcible penetration in an incident that is said to have occurred in October 2020. However, no criminal charges have been filed in connection with this incident.

Responding to the new allegations, Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, issued a statement emphasizing his client's denial of the claims and expressing confidence in Watson's eventual vindication. Hardin also urged people to be patient as the legal process unfolds and pledged to defend the case in court at the appropriate time, rather than conducting the defense in the media.

Since the Browns acquired Watson in a trade in March 2022, followed by a lucrative contract extension, the quarterback reached a settlement agreement with the NFL. This agreement stipulated an 11-game suspension, a $5 million fine, and mandatory participation in a treatment program provided by behavioral experts.

The settlement agreement, signed in August 2022, specifies that Watson cannot face further discipline for alleged personal conduct policy violations related to "the same or substantially similar conduct" that occurred prior to the agreement date. However, the agreement does not prevent the NFL from investigating or imposing discipline for incidents involving physical force or weapons, or incidents that become the subject of criminal charges, regardless of when they took place.

The key questions surrounding Watson's situation are whether the new allegations are true and whether they can be considered "substantially similar" to the previous claims. Sources suggest that the NFL's decision to launch an investigation indicates that they regard these allegations as significantly different from the previous ones.

According to reports, Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing Jane Doe, has stated that his client plans to meet with the NFL in the coming weeks and will present "pertinent video" as evidence. The NFL's Special Counsel for Investigations, Lisa Friel, will lead the investigation, while the interview with the accuser is expected to take place in October.

At present, there is no plan to place Watson on paid leave during the investigation. The NFL is reportedly hesitant to establish a precedent of suspending players or placing them on the Commissioners Exempt list based solely on allegations made in civil lawsuits. It is believed that due process needs to be followed before any action is taken.

If Watson is found to have violated the personal conduct policy, his guarantees could be voided. This would potentially allow the Browns to release him from his contract if they choose to do so. However, sources caution that it is premature to speculate on any actions or decisions before the legal process unfolds.

In the midst of these legal challenges, Watson's on-field performance has been underwhelming since his return to play with the Browns in late 2022. Despite being a three-time Pro Bowler with the Houston Texans and leading the league in passing yards in 2020, Watson has struggled to replicate that success in Cleveland.

While there are no specific plans for the timeline of Watson's interview with NFL investigators, it is customary for the accused player to be interviewed towards the end of the investigation process. Currently, the Browns are preparing to face the Jaguars on Sunday, with all eyes on the ongoing developments surrounding Deshaun Watson's legal situation.