Deshaun Watson Says He's 'Preparing To Play' In 2021

Deshaun Watson remains at a standstill with the Houston Texans as complicated sexual misconduct lawsuits unfold, but he is getting ready for his fifth NFL season.

OutKick previously reported the Houston Texans quarterback faces 22 civil lawsuits, but court records show the timeline of the litigation won’t interfere with his football career until the season has ended.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said Saturday morning on SportsCenter that Watson has been ramping up his training for the 2021 season — but whether he remains a Texan is another story, 247Sports reports.

"Deshaun Watson's been training, I'm told, very hard since early June with his quarterback coach Quincy Avery getting ready for a season — wherever that might be," Fowler said. "And so, there's no clarity on whether he plans to show up for training camp right now. I've asked around. The Texans knew he wasn't going to show up for OTAs or minicamp, if they even had it."

Fowler said it's largely the same stance right now.

"ut that might be out of Watson's hands because the league could place him on a commissioner exempt list as they get closer to training camp because his case is still in the information case — there's no clarity on the criminal side or the lawsuits," he said. "I am told that Watson, through his lawyer Rusty Hardin, made clear to the NFL that he would cooperate with them if they wanted to interview him at some point. So, right now, we wait and see. But Watson is preparing to play the season."

Watson has appeared to be preparing for a 2021 season in the NFL for a few weeks as he broke his social media silence on May 19 on Instagram, where the quarterback simply re-shared videos of him working out and performing football drills to his story.

"We're taking it one day at a time and really control the things we can control," first-year general manager Nick Caserio said June 14 on SportsRadio 610 in Houston, per 247Sports. "The players have been focused on their attitude and their approach in the building, and they've handled everything very well."

Caserio said the most important thing is for everyone is to focus on the things we can control.

"I don't have any additional comments about anything," Caserio added. "I think we're respectful of what's happening, respectful of the process and everybody that's involved. ... As we get more information, as we get closer to training camp, we'll try to make the best decision for the Houston Texans, whatever that entails."

247Sports reports that when asked April 30 about Davis Mills' addition as a rookie from Stanford in the 2021 NFL Draft and how the decision impacts Watson, Caserio responded with a general overview of Houston's approach. Mills was selected No. 67 overall in the third round.

Dodgers' ace Trevor Bauer, on the other hand, isn't having the same luck.

OutKick previously reported that Bauer is under investigation for an assault that allegedly took place earlier this year, and a domestic violence restraining order was filed against him leading to his suspension.

Bauer’s camp said the protection order is a temporary ex parte restraining order, meaning that nothing has been corroborated and that her statement is taken at face value without him being given an opportunity to respond.

OutKick's Clay Travis said leagues shouldn't be involved in investigations like this, but mentioned the differences between Bauer's situation and Watson's lawsuits.