WATSON WATCH
Texans may finally get some clarity on Deshaun Watson investigation this Friday
Mar 8, 2022, 4:29 pm
WATSON WATCH
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.
The district attorney investigating Deshaun Watson plans to present her case to a grand jury on Friday – the same day as Watson's civil deposition.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 8, 2022
Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, told me a request to delay the deposition until Monday was denied, so Watson will plead the fifth.
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.
Trade package:
Seattle gets QB Drew Lock, TE Noah Fant, DL Shelby Harris, two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a fifth-round pick.
Denver gets Russell Wilson and a fourth-round pick.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 8, 2022
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.
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.
CAM SMITH COMES THROUGH! #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/Y6dtPpXF9J
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 26, 2025
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.
FULL THROTTLE.
Hunter Brown now leads the MLB in lowest ERA (1.74). #BuiltForFuel pic.twitter.com/nkwT2MpgJQ
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 26, 2025
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!
🧹🧹🧹
After the @Astros completed their sweep of the Phillies, @JuliaMorales visited with Bryan Abreu!#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/UeOOSNDKwW
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) June 26, 2025
Rafael Marchán had two of the Phillies' four hits. Bryson Stott reached base twice and scored the Phillies' lone run.
Smith’s RBI.
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.
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).