TAMPA, Fla. – The heaviest player in the NFL, Bucs rookie nose tackle Desmond Watson, has to pinch himself after being at the Bucs rookie minicamp.
“I’m happy,” Watson said. “It’s a dream come true.
Watson grew up in Tampa, played at Plant HS, and then at the University of Florida. The undrafted Big Man, listed at 464 lbs at Florida’s Pro Day, says he’s been working on trying to lose weight and is somewhere around 437 right now.
“It’s getting a transition from a new nutritionist, so we’re still coming up with a plan to keep it going. Obviously, it’s still a work in progress.”
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Bucs head coach Todd Bowles is pumping the brakes a bit on Watson coming in as a starter, as a run stopper, or the answer to stopping the Eagles Tush Push.
“He has to make the team, first of all,” Bowles said. “Right now, we just have to see how long he can stay on the field and (we) put him on a program where we think he can make some progress.
To judge him right now is very early and we didn’t get him for the tush push.”
So far, working with his new teammates on the practice field, in this hot Tampa weather, doesn’t seem to bother Watson. However, he had been working indoors to prepare for the Bucs minicamp.
“I’m from here,” Watson said. ” I think I was spoiled a little bit, training inside during the offseason. So it was hot, but I’m used to it.”
Bowles likes what he saw from Watson at minicamp.
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“I’ve seen him before,” Bowles said. He looks just as impressive before as he does now. He’s a huge man.He’s got a lot of size.”
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