Bucs Work Out Desmond Watson

The Bucs have taken another look at defensive tackle Desmond Watson. Tampa Bay hosted a workout with him on Friday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Watson had signed with the team as an undrafted free agent following the draft and participated in rookie mini-camp. But once training camp came around, Watson did not reach certain weight limits and the team put him on the NFI list.

While Watson would workout individually he never practiced with the team for the entirety of training camp. It was an ongoing storyline about whether he would ever put on the helmet and shoulder pads and practice, let alone play in a preseason game.

Because Watson played at the University of Florida, he was well known by Bucs fans. He was also considered the heaviest player in NFL history at 464 pounds, also generating storylines across the league about it. The team cut him during roster cuts but did not sign him to the practice squad. However, at the time Bucs head coach said that the door isn’t closed on Desmond Watson, and that became true with this workout coming up.

When the Bucs took a chance on the big defensive tackle Watson, they knew they were bringing in a project with rare size and upside.  His presence alone demanded attention in the middle of the defensive line, as he clogged running lanes and consistently drew double teams at Florida. Though his conditioning and stamina were always points of emphasis, it was believed that Watson could potentially be a backup nose tackle and become an answer to stopping the Eagles’ tush push, who the Bucs have play in Week 4. The Bucs had stopped it before with Vita Vea, but Watson’s would even be more of an asset.

DT Desmond Watson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Could Watson Come Back To Bucs?

Tampa Bay has lot defensive tackle Calijah Kancey for the season with a torn pec. Not long after they signed Elijah Simmons off of the Cardinals practice squad to the active roster. It will be Vita Vea and Logan Hall picking up most of the slack with Kancey out, plus Greg Gaines is very suitable for more playing time and it’s an opportunity for rookie fifth round pick Elijah Roberts to have more of a role. Roberts shared half a sack with Lavonte David in their last game.

Bucs DT Elijah Roberts – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs also have several options with players on the practice squad, including C.J. Brewer, Nash Hutmacher, Jayson Jones and Adam Gotsis. Only Gotsis has been called up for a game this season and that was in Week 1, so he still has two more games available. The rest of the defensive tackles have all three games of eligibility ready to go.

With the Bucs deep at the defensive tackle position, it’s interesting that they’re taking another look at Watson, though it shouldn’t stop them from building the best team possible. We’ll see if this captivating storyline of the Bucs and Watson continues or if it’s just a quick moment in a week where the Bucs have seen several players come in and out of the building because of the roster moves they’ve had to make recently.