Lovie Smith -- 'No idea' if Deshaun Watson will be on Houston Texans roster but time 'takes care of everything'

INDIANAPOLIS — Houston Texans head coach Lovie Smith said he has «no idea» if quarterback Deshaun Watson will be on the team's roster next season, but that he thinks both parties will eventually «benefit from the situation.»

Watson, who requested a trade from the Texans in January 2021, faces 22 civil lawsuits with allegations of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior. He reported to training camp last July, but did not play for the Texans last season. The quarterback was a healthy scratch for all 17 games last season for Houston, but collected his $10 million salary.

Smith, who was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach last month to replace David Culley, said while he doesn't know whether Watson will still be on the Texans' roster, «the good part about it is time kind of takes care of everything.»

«I just know Deshaun is an excellent football player,» Smith said in a news conference on Wednesday. «Excellent football players need to be playing somewhere in the NFL. Hopefully that will happen, and if it's not with us, it's somewhere else and I'm sure… as I see in this situation, both of us eventually are going to benefit from the situation and I just can't wait for that to speed up a little bit.»

While Watson faces the 22 active civil lawsuits, he is also waiting to find out if he will face criminal charges. Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, told ESPN in July that 10 women have filed complaints with Houston police about Watson, eight of whom had filed a civil lawsuit.

Last month, Hardin said in court that the Harris County District Attorney will likely decide by April 1 whether Watson will be criminally charged. The same day, a judge ruled that Watson could be deposed in relation to nine of the civil cases.