The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have placed undrafted free agent Desmond Watson on the non-football injury list to begin training camp, as the former Florida defensive tackle continues to work on his conditioning.
Watson, who played for the Gators at 6-foot-5 and 464 pounds, has reportedly reduced his weight to approximately 450 pounds. However, the team is requiring further progress before he can join practices.
“It’s just about trying to get him better, to be a healthier player and getting him on the field a little more,” Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said. “He’s working at it and we’re working with him and that’s all you can ask right now.”
Despite the conditioning hurdles, Watson possesses notable athleticism for his size. At Florida’s pro day, he registered a 25-inch vertical leap, performed 36 bench press repetitions of 225 pounds, and ran the 40-yard dash in 5.86 seconds. In four collegiate seasons, he recorded 63 combined tackles, four tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.
If Watson can meet the team’s fitness standards, he has the potential to serve as a formidable run-stuffer and could make NFL history as the heaviest player to participate in a game. His chances of securing a spot on the 53-man roster are currently slim and depend entirely on his ability to improve his physical condition.
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