The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have placed rookie defensive tackle Desmond Watson, the NFL’s heaviest player, on a diet to get him onto the field, with Week 1 looming
If Desmond Watson, the NFL’s heaviest player, ever makes his professional debut, it will be an incredible achievement.
The former Florida Gators star stands at 6-foot-6 and weighed in at 464lbs at his pro day earlier this year, making him the heaviest player in NFL history. The 22-year-old was an undrafted free agent, alongside Shilo Sanders, who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason.
However, if Watson ever wants to see the field, he will need to shed some weight. While it is unclear the weight Tampa Bay wants Watson to get down to, the heaviest player in the NFL in 2024 was Baltimore Ravens guard Daniel Faalele, weighing in at 380lbs. Watson has reportedly lost 25 to 30lbs already prior to entering the NFL.
Recently, the Buccaneers placed Watson on the non-football injury list. He was spotted walking laps around the practice field at training camp, whilst also being seen watching his fellow defensive lineman go through drills he is unable to participate in.
Tampa Bay has Watson working with the team nutritionist to help him lose weight and get into playing shape.
“Its just about trying to get him better, to be a healthier player and getting him on the field a little more,” said Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles about Watson at training camp.
“Thats kind of where Im at right now. Hes working at it, and were working with him, and thats all you can ask right now.
“I dont have a timetable on what we can get him down to or when that comes. Hes from Armwood, he went to Florida, so hes used to the heat. Thats not a big factor in it.
“Weve just got to see what happens.”
It seems unlikely that Watson will make Tampa’s 53-man roster, with teams required to trim down their preseason rosters by Tuesday, August 26.
However, there’s no doubt that the 22-year-old, despite his weight, is an athletic freak. He ran a 5.93 40-yard dash this past offseason, an astonishing feat given his weight.
Bowles has also admitted he believes Watson is capable of being a contributor for the Buccaneers, but that he needs to sit down and speak with the former Florida defensive lineman.
“That’s something we’re going to meet about in the next two days,” Bowles said earlier this week.
“I’d like to have some long-term plans for him going forward because he’s making some progress, and I feel like down the line he can help us, but we’ll have those conversations toward the end of the week.”
Should Tampa Bay look to keep Watson around, then it makes sense to keep him on the reserve-NFI list, which would allow him to continue his weight loss.
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