Deshaun Watson Jun 14, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) runs a play during minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is currently waiting to find out exactly what type of suspension he will be handed down from the NFL. Watson recently settled 20 out of 24 civil lawsuits against him that accused him of sexual misconduct.

There have been conflicting reports surrounding what a suspension will eventually look like for Watson, with some believing that the NFL is seeking an indefinite year-long suspension.

Others believe that the NFL would be willing to give Watson around a six to eight game suspension if Judge Sue Robinson made that ruling.

It all still appears very much in the air, but NFL insider Dan Graziano discussed the situation on ESPN Radio on Wednesday and said that there are currently no talks between the NFL and Watson on a possible settlement.

“They weren’t able to come close enough late last week,” Graziano said. “The league is still insisting, from what I’ve been told, on an indefinite suspension that would allow Watson to reapply for reinstatement after a certain period of time. Initially, they wanted that period to be a year. But they moved a little closer to Watson and were talking about, ‘You know, you can reapply after 12 games,’ for example. But Watson is still not interested in signing up for that indefinite suspension.”

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk added to that discussion of no current talks Thursday, writing “Per multiple sources, currently there are no talks. Another source said that, based on the evidence and argument at the hearing, a 12-game, open-ended suspension would not be a serious offer.”

Watson appears to be firm that he does not want an indefinite suspension. So it looks like it will come down to a potential decision from Judge Robinson for a suspension length.

Watson will almost certainly be missing a large portion of the 2022 NFL season. That’s troubling for Browns’ fans, especially now that the team has officially traded quarterback Baker Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers.

Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett appears to be the clear second option in Cleveland.

He has proven to be serviceable but unexceptional as a quarterback in his six-year NFL career. The Browns may struggle to have success in the absence of Watson next year.

A verdict on Watson should be coming shortly, but there is clearly still plenty to figure out between the NFL and Watson to figure out how long of a suspension it will be.

[Pro Football Talk, Cleveland Browns on Cleveland.com]

About Reice Shipley

Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.