WATSON WATCH

Texans may finally get some clarity on Deshaun Watson investigation this Friday

Texans may finally get some clarity on Deshaun Watson investigation this Friday
Friday could be a huge day for the Texans. Composite image by Jack Brame.
Mike Florio reacts to Deshaun Watson's lawyer aggressively firing back at Tony Buzbee

The NFL Network's Tom Pelissero is reporting that the district attorney investigating Deshaun Watson will present her case to the grand jury on Friday. Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, had previously been pointing to April 1 as a date in which we would know if Watson would be charged criminally. But it looks like Watson and the Houston Texans will get an answer sooner than anticipated. So soon in fact that Hardin told The New York Timesthat he hopes a decision will be made that day.

If the grand jury decides not to move forward with criminal charges against Watson, the process of trading him will get substantially easier. Of course that's a big if, but either way, the Texans and Watson should get more clarity about his future over the next few days. As far as Watson pleading the fifth is his civil deposition, that won't impact whether the grand jury decides to move forward with criminal charges.

And the timing could actually benefit the Texans, with Aaron Rodgers deciding to stay in Green Bay, and the Seahawks getting a huge haul for QB Russell Wilson on Tuesday. Watson is the last elite QB on the market. The Panthers, Commanders, and Eagles are all rumored to have interest.

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The Astros beat the Phillies, 2-1. Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images.

Cam Smith hit an RBI single in the eighth inning to give the Houston Astros a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

The rookie's second hit of the game came off Orion Kerkering (5-3) and gave the Astros their fourth straight win.

Brandon Marsh tied the game on a sacrifice fly in the top of the inning to end the Phillies' 26-inning scoreless streak.

The Astros took a 1-0 lead on Yainer Diaz’s RBI single in the second inning. They only managed three more hits off Phillies starter Christopher Sanchez, who struck out 11 with zero walks over six innings. Sanchez has not issued a walk in three straight starts.

Hunter Brown lowered his league best ERA to 1.74 by scattering three singles over seven shutout innings, with nine strikeouts. He did not allow a runner to reach second base.

Bryan Abreu (3-3) struck out Trea Turner to end the eighth, and then struck out Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm, and Nick Castellanos in the ninth.

Abreu joined Julia Morales after the game and talked about his impressive performance!

Rafael Marchán had two of the Phillies' four hits. Bryson Stott reached base twice and scored the Phillies' lone run.

Key moment

Smith’s RBI.

Key stat

Brown’s 1.74 ERA is the fourth best in Astros history through 16 starts and the best since Justin Verlander posted a 1.60 ERA through 16 starts in 2018.

Up next

The Astros open a three-game series against the Cubs on Friday with LHP Brandon Walter (0-1 3.80 ERA) on the mound.

The Phillies open a three-game series at the Braves on Friday with RHP Mick Abel (2-1 3.47 ERA) against Atlanta RHP Bryce Elder (2-4 4.77).

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