Defensive lineman Desmond Watson has been informed he must lose weight if he wants to compete in the NFL.
The 22-year-old joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted rookie but has yet to take the field and weighing in at over 33 stone.
The Buccaneers have placed Watson on the non-football illness list while he works to reduce his weight.
However, video footage showing the rookie observing his teammates' training sessions from the touchline has attracted widespread attention online.
**ARE YOU READING THIS ON OUR APP? DOWNLOAD NOW FOR THE BEST GB NEWS EXPERIENCE**
Team management is said to have established specific weight targets that Watson must achieve before being permitted to participate in training activities.
Desmond Watson has been told he needs to lose weight before he can take the field
|Getty
General Manager Jason Licht confirmed the existence of these benchmarks, stating: "We have some milestones we want him to hit before we get him out there. He's doing a solid job getting there. That's all I'll say."
Despite his efforts to shed the pounds, Watson faces an uphill battle to secure a place on the team's 53-man squad for the upcoming regular season.
Recent footage captured Watson emerging from the tunnel in apparent good humour, engaging in conversations with coaching staff whilst his fellow players conducted practice exercises. The video has since circulated widely across social media platforms.
JUST IN: BBC confirm first Match of the Day host after Gary Lineker exit
Head coach Todd Bowles acknowledged last month that Watson's exclusion from training camp directly relates to concerns about his weight.
Bowles elaborated on the team's approach, saying: "It's just about trying to get him better, to be a healthier player and get him on the field more. That's where I'm at right now. He's working at it and we're working with him and that's all you can ask."
READ MORE: UFC chief Dana White vows to end pay-per-view model after clinching historic multi-billion TV deal
Desmond Watson weighs 464 pounds
|Getty
The coach declined to specify exact weight targets or timelines for Watson's return. "We have some things in mind with him, where we want to see him at," Bowles said. "He's made some progress. . . . I don't have a timetable on what we can get him down to or when that comes."
Watson's prospects for making the final roster remain slim given his current circumstances.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
The situation has prompted mixed responses from supporters on social media. One fan expressed sympathy, writing: "This sucks. Wishing Desmond Watson to lose weights so he'd be able to play."
Another supporter commented: "heartbreaking, you can tell he wants to play so bad."
Fans have criticised how the weight issues are being handled
|Getty
However, some criticised the franchise's handling of the matter, with one person posting: "How they gonna fat shame Desmond Watson like that!"
The defensive lineman's journey to meet the Buccaneers' fitness requirements continues, though his chances of earning a regular-season roster spot appear increasingly remote. The team has not disclosed specific weight targets or deadlines for his potential return to active participation.