Demond Watson Added To Bucs’ Practice Squad
September 23rd, 2025
Desmond “Big Gator” Watson has been added to the Tampa Bay practice squad after weeks of being ostracized for being overweight.
Joe heard the report on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
How much Watson weighs is unclear. But the former University of Florida defensive tackle did weigh 464 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. The Bucs signed him after he went undrafted and put him on a fitness program that didn’t allow him to practice in training camp.
Bizarre. (Joe smells lawyers.)
The Bucs cut Watson in August and Todd Bowles said he’d check in with Watson after a couple of weeks. Considering Watson had no team, Bowles was able to make good on his word. Watson had a tryout last week and now he’s back with the team.
Joe’s not assuming anything with Watson, including whether the Bucs will allow him to practice. However, Joe will assume Watson has made significant progress on his weight-loss journey in the four weeks since he was cut. Good for him.
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:34 pm
Bring him into stop the eagles tush push
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:38 pm
I’m wondering if that is exactly what they are doing… would be awesome!
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Vita Vea 347lbs, Desmond Watson 446lbs and Elijah Simmons 334 lbs stack in the middle
Realize NFL listed weights are inaccurate. –Joe
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:40 pm
Watson isn’t just freakishly big. He’s also freakishly strong- like just as strong as Vita Vera. Put the 2 of them side by side and they won’t be going anywhere against the rush push!
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:40 pm
TUSH PUSH. Might have something to do with it
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:40 pm
Vea/tush
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:46 pm
MAKE HIM A TWO WAY PLAYER. PLAY ON THE DL & OL.
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:46 pm
This must mean Elijah Simmons is staying on the active roster. Idk how familiar most here are with Simmons, but a man that size should not be as explosive as he’s shown to be.
Happy for Dez, hopefully this is his foot in the door and he can continue to work on being a pro ball player. I know whomever was the scout that said post draft “I know a guy when can go after” is beaming right now, probably more so if Watson can stick even if it’s on the PS. Give our OGs a great look in weekly prep, cause Quinnen Williams was eating their food on a snap to snap basis
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:51 pm
Get him on Tirzepatide.
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:55 pm
Wonder how much he weighs now?
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:58 pm
Watson! Go Bowles!
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:58 pm
DID YOU KNOW?
1. Detroit had more sacks last night than the Bucs have all season.
2. Bucs secondary has more sacks than the OLB+DL combine.
The entire OLB crew contributes literally next to nothing, but thankfully we have two stud Safeties. Tykee is easily the defensive MVP.
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:02 pm
Great news! Rooting for Dez!
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:03 pm
Would the Eagles consider audibleing out of the Tush Push?
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:04 pm
Bring on the tush push!
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:05 pm
Accurate weights or not, the very thought of someone weighing one hundred pounds more than Vita Vea has got to get your attention.
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:07 pm
Mobucs – You can bet the Eagles are taking notice right now.
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:10 pm
Hope it works out. I like to have local boys growing up to be Bucs.
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:15 pm
Let’s just hope he takes advantage of this opportunity…..gotta root for the kid!!!
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:16 pm
Jalen Hurts is about to hurt on that tush push.
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:16 pm
1 more thing for the Eagles to worry about…..
Would be awesome if Watson is able to play and could be activated to use against the dreaded tush push. Many have been envisioning that exact scenario ever since Watson was brought into the fold months ago….
Would be cool if it actually happens – and even cooler if it actually WORKED.
Stuff them Fleagles on 3rd/4th and 1 a couple times and watch how quickly they abandon their signature play against us……
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:18 pm
SlyPirate Says:
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:58 pm
DID YOU KNOW?
1. Detroit had more sacks last night than the Bucs have all season.
Did you know that Baltimore has 3 sacks for the season.
If you had told anyone on this board yesterday that one team in the MNF game would have 7 sacks and the other team would have 0 sacks. We would have all guessed that it was Baltimore getting 7 on Goff and Detroit getting 0 on Jackson.
That’s why they play the game. Lot’s of ways to win in the NFL — there is not just one formula — and guess what — the Bucs are finding a way to win.
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:18 pm
But can he play WR?
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:32 pm
“But can he play WR?”
doesn’t have to . All he needs to do is fall down near the opposing teams defensive line and bucky will find space to run from the ensuing earthquake.
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:37 pm
Honestly, how did Shaq get 19.5 sacks?
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:37 pm
SlyPirate Says:
DID YOU KNOW?
1. Detroit had more sacks last night than the Bucs have all season.
*******************
The Bucs are tied for 10th in the NFL with 8 sacks on the season. Detroit had 7 last night.
But if you want to play that game, the Bucs had more sacks against the Jets than the Eagles, Ravens, Titans and Panthers have all season.
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:39 pm
Lets get it over with, put him in against the tush push, if he can’t help to stop it then what else can he do? Maybe put him on the cheer squad, that would be a sight to see.
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:46 pm
Mind games.
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:47 pm
Seems like roberts played more than gaines….is gaines hurt?
glad we signed Dez…
now go make an impact kid!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:51 pm
813bucboi Says:
Seems like roberts played more than gaines….is gaines hurt?
****************
Gaines isn’t hurt, but he is very limited as a pass rusher. Roberts is likely considered better at it. Game script in the 3rd and 4th quarter probably led to Roberts getting more reps.
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:54 pm
Stpetematt Says:
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:40 pm
Vea/tush
***************************
Please seek help!
LOL
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:57 pm
This last month he was not on the team they probably had him on Ozempic and now he has lost enough weight to play lol
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:59 pm
Put him on the edge, let him rush Hurts.
September 23rd, 2025 at 3:16 pm
Again, people need to relax with this kid. He barely played at Florida because of his weight. I watched a lot of gator games, the percentage of snaps he played was maybe 30%.
They are basically trying to get him down to 380 to 400 -at most. Then they’ll go from there.
No chance he’s activated take up a roster spot just so he can come in for one or two plays against the Eagles.
Hope he is working hard to lose weight because all training camp it looked like all he did was lounge around. I’m rooting for him, but if anything, he’s probably a project for late in the season or next year.
September 23rd, 2025 at 3:18 pm
Seen a report, I think sports illustrated that Watson is down to 434 lbs.
September 23rd, 2025 at 3:20 pm
Not worried about the defense, they’re playing better and better. I am more concerned about the offensive line. I hope they don’t mess around with Tristan back at right tackle. Get your LT, LG, center all back to normal. Have a tight end help HECK at right tackle. That to me seems like the best case scenario for the next two weeks.
September 23rd, 2025 at 3:21 pm
BucU
If that’s the case, then he’s only lost 30 pounds the combine. Quite honestly, at that weight he should’ve lost 30 pounds during training camp. I’m rooting for him, but he is most likely a project for next year, late in the season at best.
September 23rd, 2025 at 3:23 pm
Bwahahaha! Will do, gp.
September 23rd, 2025 at 3:25 pm
Maybe he’ll just play well at 400 for him….losing too much weight also affects strength. Welcome back Dez. Put him in on the tush push they will try next game….and you know they will try.
September 23rd, 2025 at 3:28 pm
Some of you folks are hilarious. This kid isn’t gonna play anytime soon. Nor should he.
Did someone actually believe this guy will help the pass eush? How? He didn’t do squat for it in Gainesville, but suddenly he’s gonna be a pass rushing beast? Probably some of the same crowd that thought Kyle Trask was the second coming of Peyton Manning.
Starting a DL that can only play two or three snaps a game is stupid. Heck, it’s bad enough that Vea is as part time as he is. Watson would even worse.
September 23rd, 2025 at 3:32 pm
Vita Vea already caused Jason Kielce to retire. Let’s see what other O-linemen on the Eagles we can squash like a bug.
September 23rd, 2025 at 3:41 pm
Jason Kelse is probably glad he retired when he did. Would not be good to be under Vea and Watson
September 23rd, 2025 at 3:41 pm
Everyone does know Philly runs a whole lot more plays than the tush push. Seems farfetched to be trying to get a player just for another team that is not your division who you will rarely see in the regular season (played eagles last season and this one, be a while before we get scheduled with them again). At best that would be trying to sign one player to the defensive line for a team we might see in the playoffs for just one play that they may or may not play in that game, or just simply line up to do tush push and toss it to the outside or flip it right over the top of the line it’s just silly to think we’re getting this guy for one team to stop one play. With all that being said I think he would be a huge disruptive Force against all teams trying to run the back. He would/could soak up double teams or disrupt centers timing by launching, hitting, and landing on him play after play.
September 23rd, 2025 at 4:08 pm
Todd was clear…. He’s NOT bringing Watson back to stop the tush push.
He’s fighting to play football, not be a gadget guy.
Wishing the dude the best of luck 🤞🏼
September 23rd, 2025 at 4:10 pm
Big Gator isn’t going to play until he loses 80lbs. He has had a lot of chances to work on this. Somebody needs to tell him football plus his weight in the Fla heat is a matter of life and death. Bucs know this so they will just keep and eye on him on practice squad.
September 23rd, 2025 at 4:26 pm
@Geno
“the Bucs are finding a way to win.” Amen and that’s ALL that counts. As they say it’s not HOW…it’s HOW MANY!
As for Desmond on a human level how can you not root for this guy? As a young man I’m ashamed to admit that I judged fat people big time. I no longer do that!
There but for the grace of God go any of us!!! He’s been practicing D1 football for how long? How many people here have put in as much effort.
It’s not because he’s lazy he was cursed with a horrid metabolism. Wouldn’t it be nice if he found a way to get smaller and use his strength and gain some self esteem. Nobody WANTS to be fat!
September 23rd, 2025 at 5:00 pm
Maybe the only “good” aspect of being overweight of any amount is that it builds muscle to navigate through life. Loose some weight and the strength is still there.
September 23rd, 2025 at 6:39 pm
He will not even last 1 game, he will be on IR within minutes. He is obese without willpower, he was asked to lose weight to make the team and that did not happen. Ridiculous, gimmicky and will backfire.
September 23rd, 2025 at 7:58 pm
FTC
“He is obese without willpower,”
WOW! A little harsh don’t you think. How’s your willpower? I sometimes have it, I get out of bed at 5AM to go swim a mile…other times I don’t. No matter what though I take no credit for any of it because it’s a GIFT I received not something I can explain or pass on to others.
There is a lot that goes into obesity!!!! Putting obesity all on willpower is actually quite sad considering the reality.
September 23rd, 2025 at 8:11 pm
Who cares about the butt push. Let me run it and spear Hurts in the kidneys until he’s peeing blood for a week. See if they keep running it.
September 23rd, 2025 at 8:12 pm
Them, not me. As ever, comments need an edit button.
September 23rd, 2025 at 8:16 pm
Another injury that hasn’t been mentioned is Logan Hall who had a groin injury. The hits just keep coming
September 23rd, 2025 at 8:54 pm
Rooting for this young dude. Yeah, I know it sounds stupid, but what is a tush push? Is it illegal? If so, bet the refs will love it. Go Bucs!!
September 23rd, 2025 at 9:20 pm
I’m glad he’s back!
September 24th, 2025 at 12:09 am
Why do I keep wanting to call him ‘Webster’?
(Whatchu talkin bout Willis?)
What’s the opposite of mini me?