Bucs sign DT Desmond Watson to practice squad after workout

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed defensive tackle Desmond Watson to their practice squad after bringing him in for a workout last week, a person with knowledge of the decision said. Watson, a 22-year-old former Florida lineman who drew attention for his extraordinary size and athleticism in college, had been waived by the Buccaneers in late August after spending training camp on the nonfootball illness list as the team sought to manage his weight and conditioning.

Watson, who weighed 464 pounds at Florida's pro day, returned to the Buccaneers facility for a tryout on Sept. 19 and impressed team staff enough to earn another look. The exact figures for his recent weight were not disclosed; team officials and reports have placed him at various points under 450 pounds during the offseason and training-camp period, with some accounts saying he reached the mid-400s and others reporting numbers in the high 400s. The Buccaneers said he met the fitness benchmarks they set before the team moved to add him to the practice squad.

Head coach Todd Bowles praised Watson's recent workout but cautioned that the move is not meant to be a one-play fix for an opponent. "We'll never bring him in...