The Bucs will have to make a decision on Desmond Watson sooner or later. The former Gators defensive tackle has yet to be cleared for practice or any physical activity due to his weight. According to reports, Watson currently weighs 437 pounds, which is 12 pounds less than the 449-pound weight he was listed at in the Bucs training camp guide.
Watson was signed by the Bucs after he had a very noteworthy pro day, which saw the big man weigh in at 464 pounds, run a 40-yard time under six seconds, push up 225 pounds on the bench 36 times and hit a vertical jump of 25 inches.
FOX Sports NFL writer Greg Auman believes Watson is heading to the Non-Football Injury list.
I'm fully expecting Desmond Watson to get shifted to the reserve-NFI list -- doesn't count toward the 90, and can stay working with team trainers/nutritionists, team can pay him what they want to, can be activated at any time during season. Expecting Shilo Sanders to be cut. https://t.co/a0jZkz6vbx
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 24, 2025
What that means for Watson's future?
The good news is that Watson can continue to work with the Bucs and toward the goals they have set for him to have an opportunity to get on the practice squad down the road. But this will likely end any chance of Watson getting in a position to see the field in 2025.
Watson was always a long shot to make the active roster in his rookie year. Even the most optimistic Gator fans will admit that Big Des was going to be a project at the NFL level and needed time to work on skill level. He was mostly a rotational piece at Florida, never establishing himself as a starter or a consistent dominating presence on the Gators defensive front.
Watson's best chance remains with the Bucs. He doesn't have any film from practice, scrimmages or preseason games, so that means another team is unlikely to be as willing to take a chance on him as the Bucs are.
The circus comes to an end
Watson became a regular way for "media" on X to get cheap engagement. They would usually heist some video of him walking around the third field or holding a tackling dummy and add the caption of "heartbreaking" or "Let him practice". It was truly some of the tackiest stuff all designed for drawing clicks
Unfortunately, the circus surrounding Watson, which was NOT his fault, was affecting Bucs head coach Todd Bowles, who was beginning to get annoyed at the Watson questions (NFL coaches HATE talking about players who aren't participating in practice or playing). However, Bowles made sure not to close the door completely.
This is what Bucs coach Todd Bowles had to say about Desmond Watson’s status with the team…feels he’s making progress and could help them long term. pic.twitter.com/ITkthCIIvS
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) August 20, 2025
Whether the NFL happens for Watson or not, I think we can all hope that he continues to work and get his weight to a place of long-term health. He doesn't have to play professional football to have a long, fulfilling life.