Deshaun Watson will not face criminal charges

Deshaun Watson has been accused of sexual assault by nearly two dozen women, but the Houston Texans star will not face criminal charges.

A grand jury in Harris County, Texas, on Friday declined to indict Watson on sexual assault charges. Watson had been under investigation after several massage therapists filed criminal complaints alleging that he sexually assaulted them.

There are still 22 civil lawsuits pending against Watson. Tony Buzbee, the attorney who represents all of the women, said during the summer that his legal team is preparing to try each of the alleged victims’ cases in front of a jury. He did not totally rule out settlements, however.

The NFL will now conduct its own investigation into the allegations against Watson. The Houston Texans star could still face a suspension, but teams will be much more willing to make trade offers for him now that the criminal investigation has concluded.

Watson, 26, did not play at all last season. He threw for 4,823 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2020 before demanding a trade after the season. The Texans have made it clear that they still intend to move on from Watson.

Watson has a full no-trade clause, so he will have a say in where he ends up. One NFC team may have already emerged as the favorite to land him.

Photo: Aug 17, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) before a game against the Detroit Lions at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports