Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson urges fans not to protest on his behalf

HOUSTON -- Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson on Monday asked fans who planned what was initially called a protest on his behalf to cancel the event "for the sake of public safety."

"Although I am humbled I ask that whoever is organizing the march cancel for the sake of public safety," Watson said in a tweet. "Covid is spreading at a high rate & I don't want any fans to unnecessarily expose themselves to infection."

The protest appeared to be related to Watson's unhappiness with the team after the process it used to hire general manager Nick Caserio.

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The event was organized on Saturday night by a Texans fan who tweeted, "I'm off Monday, I'm down to protest in front of NRG. If we get enough people to do these things change could happen."

The gathering, first marketed as a protest but later changed to a "rally," wound up being a small group showing its support for Watson. The plan was for fans to eat at Lefty's, the cheesesteak franchise of which Watson is a minority owner, and then walk a half-mile to NRG Stadium for a "peaceful protest."