Ravens Insider: Upshaw's weight issue and other Ravens news, notes and opinions

[ExtremeRavens]

You at least have to give young outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw some credit in acknowledging that he’s fighting weight issues and “it’s not a good look” to come into the various minicamps for a second straight year out of shape. There are plenty of players that won’t even do that, no matter how obvious it looks. Before participating in teammate Lardarius Webb’s charity softball game yesterday, Upshaw told reporters, including my colleague Aaron Wilson , that he currently weighs 285 pounds, which is at least 15 pounds heavier than he played at last season. Upshaw admitted that he’s had some “personal issues” that have prevented him from fully devoting his time and attention to working out. It would be unfair to crush the guy without knowing what he’s dealing with on a personal level. However, I think it is fair to point out that questions about his work ethic caused Upshaw to slide into the second round of last year’s draft. And when he reported for last year’s offseason activities, he was heavier than team officials had hoped. This is a big training camp for Upshaw, too. The Ravens signed Elvis Dumervil , relegating Upshaw to a reserve role. Upshaw remains very much in the team’s plans, but he’s going to have to earn his defensive snaps and coming in out of shape is probably the quickest way to earn time in head coach John Harbaugh’s doghouse.

 

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