Setback for Desmond Watson clouds Bucs training camp plans

Even though he went undrafted, former Florida Gator Desmond Watson seemed to be in a decent spot heading into his first NFL training camp. He was picked up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, allowing him to stay close to home while also being a player of need, given the roster makeup of the Bucs.

But as training camp gets underway, Watson has suffered a setback that threatens to stall his NFL momentum.

Desmond Watson to miss the start of training camp

Greg Auman of Fox Sports has reported that Watson was placed on the "non-football illness" list and would miss the start of training camp. While the specific "illness" wasn't specified, Auman would later note Watson isn't dealing with a "new" illness and speculated the designation was connected to not hitting a goal weight the Bucs had set for him.

Watson's weight has been forever connected to his profile, earning him the nickname Big Dez. He helped bolster the interior of Florida's defensive line, especially down the stretch in 2024 as the Gators went on a four-game winning streak, and was viewed as a fringe NFL prospect heading into the draft.

He had a monster Pro Day with the Gators, which included 36 reps on bench press and a vertical leap that wound up being higher than Auburn basketball star Johni Broome.

And even though he went undrafted, Tampa Bay's roster makeup seemingly gives Watson a shot to make the 53-man roster.

The Bucs mostly lean on Vita Vea as their sole DT, but also rotate Greg Gaines. Outside of those two, the Bucs have no one else listed on the team website at nose tackle (and even Gaines is listed as DL).

So we'll see how much this setback impacts Watson's chances of making the roster in 2025. It could be minor, or it could end his NFL journey before it even starts.