It didn't take long for a fan-favorite to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After getting released as part of the team's final roster cuts, Desmond Watson is back with the Bucs just in time to potentially have an impact that we all hoped he might.
Watson was signed as an undrafted free agent after becoming a viral sensation at the University of Florida. He was an absolute monster of a defensive tackle, both in terms of his brooding style of play but also his incredible size.
He weighed in at over 460 pounds ahead of the NFL Draft, something that made him instantly a fan-favorite but also worked against him in making the initial roster. While there was plenty of fan hype about him, Watson didn't play a single down in the preseason and missed every single training camp practice due to being placed on the non-football injury list.
Former Florida DT Desmond Watson — the 6-foot-5, 464-pound behemoth — is signing with the #Bucs on a deal that includes a $20,000 signing bonus and $50,000 guaranteed, per his agent EJ Gonzalez of Grady Sports Agency.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 26, 2025
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The reason was his weight; the Buccaneers didn't feel comfortable having him practice at the weight he was at and challenged him to cut down in order to have a chance at a roster spot. He did that, losing over 40 pounds, but ultimately wasn't signed before the start of the season.
Head coach Todd Bowles indicated at that time that the Bucs weren't closing the door on Watson eventually returning, and it now appears that door has opened up.
Desmond Watson re-joins the Buccaneers ahead of Week 4
What Watson's role will be with the Bucs is unclear, but he's being signed just ahead of a big game against the Philadelphia Eagles. A team known for mastering the Tush Push coming to town right as the Bucs sign a player dubbed the Tush Push Terminator is notable, and maybe not entirely coincidental.
After the Bucs signed Watson, the fantasy fans had was of him lining up next to Vita Vea to create a nearly-800 pound mass of human to stop the Tush Push. In order for that dream to come true, the Bucs would need to elevate Watson off the practice squad ahead of Sunday's game against the Eagles.
It's not impossible, but it's more of a long shot than we'd all like.
Still, Watson is back with the Bucs which is what really matters. If anything it goes to show that when the team says it cares about a player that word is bond. Whether he has an impact on the game is yet to be seen but at the very least this is another reminder that the Bucs are built different and remain one of the more trustworthy franchises in the league.
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