Deshaun Watson remains the quarterback of the Houston Texans, and that will not change, general manager Nick Caserio said Friday at his introductory press session.
“He’s our quarterback,” Caserio said in a joint video conference with owner Cal McNair. “I can’t tell you how much respect and admiration I have for our player.”
Respect appears to be an important buzzword in Houston after Watson reportedly was incensed not to have input on the team’s GM and coaching searches, a right he allegedly was promised by McNair.
Watson has been unreachable this week, the Texans said, while on vacation.
Watson, the Houston Chronicle reported Friday, has not formally requested a trade but multiple reports Thursday point to a potential showdown between the quarterback and team management. At the center of the conflict is Watson’s reported preference for the team to hire Eric Bienemy as head coach. NFL Network and ESPN reported Watson was told the team would talk to the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, but that hasn’t happened.
“When the time is appropriate we’ll have a conversation with the players and spend some time with Deshaun,” Caserio said.
Caserio, hired away from the New England Patriots on a six-year deal, has control of the Houston personnel department and roster decisions after the franchise spent two seasons without a true GM.
McNair said 2020 was “a hard year for a lot of different reasons” and confirmed Caserio would be the final voice on all roster matters, including the draft and free agency. McNair did not want to specifically address reports that Watson and standout defensive end J.J. Watt are perturbed at the team.
“In regards to 4, 99, they’re valued members of our team. Those are in alignment with bringing Nick aboard,” McNair said.
Watson’s agent, David Mulugheta, said Friday that his deleted Tweet on Friday was a political reference unrelated to McNair or the Texans. It read: “Nepotism at an all-type (sic) high. Shoutout to those of us who got it out of the mud.”
Watson earlier this week called for a complete “culture change” with the Texans, who finished 4-12.
Watson, 25, was named to his third straight Pro Bowl in 2020 and led the NFL with 4,823 passing yards. He threw a career-high 33 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions.
