Many, this website included, assumed the NFL’s decision to appeal Deshaun Watson’s suspension would potentially keep him on the field. That the NFLPA would inevitably file a lawsuit in response to whatever revised punishment commissioner Roger Goodell (or his designee) handed down, which could lead to some sort of court-mandated freeze on the ban. It wouldn’t last forever, but it would hold long enough for, say, Watson to play against the Jets in Week 2.
Not the case, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, who has a law degree:
This experience has caused many to assume that, if the NFL Players Association files a lawsuit on behalf of Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson after (as expected) the NFL dramatically increases the six-game suspension … Watson will be available for the regular-season opener at Carolina, and all other games until his case is resolved.