Similarly to the Raiders earlier this year, it appears that the Texans have broken the NFL’s COVID-19 protocol.
Six players, including star quarterback Deshaun Watson, attended a grand opening for Watson’s new restaurant franchise on Tuesday — three more than are allowed at a gathering outside of the team facility or team travel, per league protocol intended to combat the virus.
Tytus Howard, Duke Johnson, Laremy Tunsil, Roderick Johnson and Brandin Cooks were pictured at the event.
Reached by ESPN, league spokesperson Brian McCarthy said, “We are aware of the event but will decline further comment.”
Watson didn’t seem concerned about the event.
“I mean, we had the masks,” Watson said. “We did everything that we were supposed to do. Six feet from different people. It was a restaurant opening. It wasn’t really an event. It was a grand opening of my restaurant. So people were coming in to get food and things like that and everyone was excited about it. So, it turned out pretty good, and right now from the messages I got from after, it’s still popping.”
The Raiders got in trouble in late September when several players were seen without masks at a charity event. Tight end Darren Waller was fined $30,000 and nine of his teammates were fined $15,000 each.
Deshaun Watson Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesInterim coach Romeo Crennel was unaware of the gathering and defended the franchise’s responsibility during the pandemic.
“I did not see that and I mean, I’m not with these guys 24/7,” Crennel said. “When they’re here with us, we wear masks and I encourage them to wear their mask and I was not at that event, so I don’t know what they were doing or why they didn’t have them on or anything like that.”



