Latest news with #TampaBayBuccaneers
USA Today
5 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Why NFL's heaviest player at 449 pounds isn't allowed to practice yet
Certain players in the NFL pack on the pounds to play their positions -- offensive lineman do it to absorb the punishment of playing against agile pass-rushers. And defensive tackles like Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Desmond Watson want to gobble up running backs trying to get by them. But in the case of Watson, he actually needs to lose weight. At a listed 449 pounds, the Bucs are putting him on the non-football illness list in order for him to shed some pounds. Per head coach Todd Bowles: "It's just about trying to get him better to be a healthier player and getting him on the field a little more, that's where I'm at right now." Bowles added Watson's working on getting in more shape, "and that's all you can ask for right now." We'll see what happens with that situation. Who are the heaviest NFL players of all time? Watson would be it if he stays at this weight. Aaron Gibson -- a tackle who played for the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears -- was once listed at 410 pounds. And ex-Cowboy Nate Newton once tipped the scales at 401 pounds.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Can Mason Graham help Myles Garrett lift DL?
It's one week from the Browns' first full-squad training camp practice on July 23, There have already been position group previews for the five offensive groups: Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends and offensive linemen. Now the previews shift to the defensive side of the ball. This preview looks at arguably the most important position group in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's scheme. It's time to dive into the defensive line. Cleveland Browns defensive linemen Defensive ends Myles Garrett Aden Huntington* Sam Kamara Isaiah McGuire Julian Okwara Elerson G. Smith Cameron Thomas Joe Tryon-Shoyinka Alex Wright Defensive tackles Jowon Briggs Maliek Collins Mason Graham* Mike Hall Jr. Shelby Harris Ralph Holley (* — denotes rookie) Into the numbers: Cleveland Browns DL Garrett hold five of the top six single-season sacks totals, including back-to-back franchise record 16 sacks in 2021-22. The only non-Garrett season in that group was Reggie Camp's 14-sack 1984, which is tied with Garrett's 2023-23 seasons for third all-time. The Browns' defensive line holdovers from 2024 not named Garrett combined for seven sacks last season. The highest total was 2.5 by McGuire, while Harris had 1.5 sacks. Hall, Thomas and Wright each had one. Tryon-Shoyinka, a 2021 first-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has 15 career sacks. His single-season high is five, which he did in 2023. McGuire, a 2023 fourth-round pick out of Missouri, was third on the Browns in pressures in 2024 with 29. He had 21 hurries, which was tied for second on the team. Graham played in a defensive scheme at Michigan that required the tackles to occupy blockers more than attack the quarterback. Still, he finished with nine career sacks and 17 tackles for loss in three seasons. What they're saying: Cleveland Browns DL Schwartz on Garrett's contract extension and the motivation it provides, on June 4: "I really think Myles is going to have the best season of his career and has to, right? You know, I mean, and I've told him before…what's that Spider Man quote? 'With great power comes great responsibility,' right? That's with the big contract, with the notoriety that came along with that, you know, with the process that took to get him to that point. There's always pressure in this league, but probably a little bit more so. And I think that, that brings out the best in players, and I know that'll be the case with Myles.' Garrett on Schwartz's comments about having his "best season," on June 10: 'With great power comes great responsibility? So that would make him my Uncle Ben, right? I mean, I look forward to having my best season for sure and I think it's trending that way. It's been really good and I think everything's pulling in that direction and I like where we are as a defensive unit. It's really firing, really rolling and I think it's really clicking as far as the scheme and the plays, especially early on. That's big.' Graham on adjusting to Browns' aggressive defensive scheme, on May 9: "Yeah, I mean Coach Jac [defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire] always talks about taking the handcuffs off. I feel like maybe in the scheme I was playing in before, I might've had handcuffs off, moving more laterally. But I feel like Coach Jac and Coach Morris [assistant defensive line coach Adam Morris], this attacking front will help me and unleash some new things in my game and I feel like I can be a great player in the scheme." Cesaire on Wright's progress, on June 12: "I mean, he's just a tough physical defensive end that knows how to rush the passer with physicality, and I just like how he sets the edge. He has some position flex where he can play inside and give us a good rush, play outside and give us a good rush. And the guy's just a hard worker, just another hungry, fast physical guy that we need on this defensive line." Schwartz on Hall coming into his second season, on June 4: 'Just like any players — I would say this, you know, we talked about [safety] Ronnie [Hickman]. It should all come together in year three. But I do think the biggest improvement you see from players is year one to year two. You see rookies here, they don't — everything is new to them. Standing in front of you guys, everything they do is new. And the second year they come back, they know what to expect. And I think you see the most improvement. We need that from Mike this year. He's been set back with an injury, but he's been working extremely hard to come back from it. And we're real hopeful to get him back on the field.' Training camp analysis: Cleveland Browns DL There's nothing wrong with starting with arguably the best pass rusher in the NFL, especially one who says he's motivated to have his best season yet like Garrett has said after signing his new contract extension. The Browns are hoping Graham, the No. 5 overall pick in the draft, can help take some of the pressure off Garrett by providing his own pressure from the interior. It's not just Graham, though. They're banking on Hall, their 2024 second-round pick, to get healthy from a offseason knee surgery and be the additional pass rush from the inside who can also be part of a younger core going forward. The same holds true with McGuire and Wright, a 2022 third-round pick, at the end spot opposite Garrett. The Browns brought in Tryon-Shoyinka in the hopes of catching a bounce-back season from a former first-round pick in the same way they did with wide receiver Jerry Jeudy in 2024. Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@ Read more about the Browns at Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns 2025 camp position preview: Can rookie, Myles Garrett lift DL?
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Buccaneers place Desmond Watson on non-football injury list until he gets in better shape
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are holding the line on defensive tackle Desmond Watson, who will stay out of practice until he loses some weight. The team placed the rookie on the non-football injury list on Wednesday, where he will stay until he gets into better shape. Watson, an undrafted rookie out of Florida, made headlines in March after weighing in at 464 pounds for the Gators' pro day. That weight makes him one of the heaviest players to ever join the NFL. According to Tampa Bay's roster, Watson has lost some weight in the past few months, and currently weighs 449 pounds. He is listed by the team as having a "non-football illness," but is still active. On Wednesday, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that he was "pleased" with Watson's progress. "It's just about trying to get him better, to be a healthier player on the field," head coach Todd Bowles said, via the Tampa Bay Times. "That's kind of where I'm at right now. He's working at it and we're working with him and that's all you can ask of him for right now." Bowles did not clarify if there was a weight goal in mind, or a timetable to getting Watson back in practice. "We have some things we have in mind with him, where we want to see him at," Bowles said. "We need to monitor that and get him where we think he needs to be and go from there. "He's made some progress. I don't have a timetable on what we can get him down to and when that comes." In addition to his weigh-in, Watson impressed at his pro day, benching 225 pounds 36 times — more than any prospect at the NFL Combine, which he was not invited to. Watson was not selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, but later signed with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Buccaneers are investigating offensive linemen
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers received some bad news when they found out star left tackle Tristan Wirfs would be missing the season's debut, and potentially a decent chunk of time after that. Wirfs' inability to play will be leaving the Bucs with genuinely gigantic shoes to fill. The in-house next man up is Charlie Heck, resident swing tackle. Heck was signed earlier this offseason to fill the role filled by Justin Skule for the last two years. Tampa Bay appeared to be all systems go with Charlie Heck until reports surfaced today, that perhaps the team is lacking complete and utter confidence in their backup swing tackle— Bringing in George Fant, a veteran tackle, for a workout. Fant is an interesting potential pickup for Tampa. He has played in 69 career games for three separate franchises, giving him experience, if nothing else. Tristan Wirfs is arguably the team's best individual player on any given Sunday and the Buccaneers have no chance of replacing him with anyone who is already on their roster or currently on the free agent market to be added. For the Buccaneers, the key will not be replacing Wirfs, rather finding a way trend water and manage the situation until he returns. Would George Fant help Tampa stay afloat? For more Bucs coverage check us out here: @Will_Walsh_NFL(X) @Bucs_Nation(X) @Will_Walsh_NFL(YouTube) More from Watch Charles Sims break ten ankles on one play Jameis Winston beats down Falcons defense Revenge for Mike Smith and Dirk Koetter? Watch: Winston and Evans are destroying the Falcons Jacquies Smith leaves Falcons game with knee injury Watch Jameis Winston's beautiful touchdown throw to Austin Seferian-Jenkins Buccaneers lead NFC South after one week
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Buccaneers 2025 training camp preview: Outside Linebacker
Uncertainty at outside linebacker ahead of training camp has become an annual tradition for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It has been four years since a Bucs edge rusher recorded double-digit sacks, and none of the outside linebackers currently on the roster recorded more than five last year. The Bucs are counting on the continued development of their young players and a key free agent to bolster the pass rush back to the levels it has not reached since their last Super Bowl run. The only big addition the Bucs made this offseason was signing edge Haason Reddick to a one-year deal. Reddick had been a perennial double-digit sack collector until last year, when a contract dispute with the Jets led to a truncated season in which he recorded just one sack. The hope is that Reddick will regain form in a situation free of contract drama. While he skipped most of the offseason programming to train on his own, there is no expectation that Reddick will be a malcontent in training camp, though his veteran status is likely to result in plenty of rest days. Entering his third season, Yaya Diaby is the long-term hope for the Bucs at edge rusher. While he only recorded 4.5 sacks last year, he was among the league's best in total pressures (70) and pass rush win percentage (18.1%) per PFF. His main goal heading into 2025 is to learn how to finish his pass rushes with the quarterback on the ground. Second-year linebacker Chris Braswell is hoping for a breakout of his own. With Joe Tryon-Shoyinka now in Cleveland and Reddick likely playing a pass rush specialist role, Braswell should see the field more than last season. The main newcomer is fourth-round pick David Walker. While he is making a big jump from Central Arkansas to the NFL, Walker was an absolute wrecking ball in college, recording 31 sacks and 63 tackles for a loss over three seasons. Walker lacks ideal length, but he plays with power and tenacity. His draft status all but ensures he will see plenty of action in training camp and the preseason. Veteran Anthony Nelson returns as reliable depth, though he is the last safe outside linebacker spot on the roster. If the Bucs carry six outside linebackers as they did to start the season last year, it will be a climactic battle between Jose Ramirez and Markees Watts. Both are undersized pass rush specialists who have seen limited NFL action over the last two seasons. Watts looked unstoppable in the preseason two years ago, but injuries robbed him of much action last year. Ramirez improved last preseason but made little impact in the little regular season action he got. Whoever wins the battle, his fight still isn't over, as talent at other parts of the roster could make the sixth outside linebacker too much of a luxury.
