The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made up their mind on Desmond Watson.
After keeping the big defensive tackle around this summer, the Bucs aren’t continuing the partnership any longer.
Watson is being waived, according to beat reporter Greg Auman.
The undrafted rookie out of Florida was weighed at 464 pounds before the draft.
At various points this summer, different reports indicated that he was 429, 437 or 450 pounds. It’s not exactly clear what the actual number was.
MORE: Shedeur Sanders gives a sassy answer about the possibility of being cut
The Buccaneers had set “milestones” for Watson, according to GM Jason Licht, but he evidently hadn’t met them, because he didn’t get to play in the preseason.
Watson was put on the non-football injury/illness list at the start of training camp as the Bucs tried to get him to lose some of the weight.
He wasn’t yet taken off the NFI list.
“Had needed to get his weight down — could have moved him to reserve-NFI, but they’ll cut him outright,” Auman wrote on X. “Not going to practice squad at the moment.”
MORE: Micah Parsons and the Cowboys get an NFC East nudge from Terry McLaurin
Watson put up strong athletic numbers at his Pro Day for a player listed at 6-foot-6 and 464 pounds. He had a chance to be the heaviest player to ever appear in an NFL regular season game.
It seems likely that another team will bring Watson along to see if they can make something out of him on their own practice squad.
But the Buccaneers have apparently seen enough for now, and they’re letting Watson walk away from their roster.
MORE NFL NEWS:
