NFL rookie Desmond Watson forced to lose weight before even touching the field

Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Desmond Watson is in a very challenging position due to his weight. Here, July 2025, the team's training camp is already well under way in Tampa, Florida.

At around 450 pounds, Desmond Watson is still not allowed to participate in team activities. You can almost feel how much he wants to play as he walks laps under the hot sun. But until he meets the team’s fitness standards, he must wait. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are focused on his health and want him in better shape before letting him join practice.

What happened to Desmond Watson at Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ camp

Former Florida Gators defensive tackle Desmond Watson signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after going undrafted in April 2025.

He weighed around 464 pounds and was measured 6 feet 6 inches at his professional day in March. By early July, he had lost roughly 25 to 30 pounds, reaching about 450 pounds but Cleveland’s coaches still barred him from practice.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ head coach Todd Bowles said, “It’s just about trying to get him better, to be a healthier player and getting him on the field a little more… He’s working at it and we’re working with him”.

Watson was placed on the non‑football injury list (NFI) starting camp week, and the team has set an undisclosed weight target before clearing him to practice.

Desmond Watson shows effort and heart while waiting for practice clearance

Desmond Watson, aged 22, has not given up. At practice camp in Tampa, he was seen walking laps around the field without pads, in the heat reaching mid‑90s Fahrenheit, working on his fitness. He is also working with team nutritionists to improve his health and reach the team’s benchmarks.Cordially, Desmond Watson said in May that he hopes to be known not just for his size but for his football skill. “It is nice to make history,” he said referencing being the heaviest player in NFL history, “but I want to be known as a football player, and a good football player at that”.

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Top Five NFL Teams That Might Surprise Everyone This SeasonAt Florida, he tallied 63 total tackles and 1.5 sacks in 51 games over four seasons. Watson bench‑pressed 225 lb thirty‑six times at the 2025 combine, more than anyone else, and ran a vertical jump of 25 in.Though he's big, the Buccaneers and Watson seem to share a goal: get his weight under control, assist him in getting healthier, and perhaps let him compete later in camp. Watson stays on the sidelines until then, hoping his efforts will bear off fast.

FAQs

Why is Desmond Watson not practicing with the Buccaneers?Desmond Watson is not practicing because the team wants him to lose more weight first.How much does Desmond Watson weigh right now? Desmond Watson currently weighs around 450 pounds.What is Desmond Watson doing during Buccaneers training camp?Desmond Watson is walking laps and working with coaches to get in better shape.