Ravens coach John Harbaugh is only sympathetic to Courtney Upshaw’s weight issues to a point.
Harbaugh praised Upshaw for his play after Thursday’s OTA session. But he also said Upshaw needs to take better care of himself.
“My first thought is that he is playing very well,” Harbaugh said. “He understands the defense exceptionally well. He’s working really hard.
“Courtney’s weight issue, he does need to lose some pounds, is that he doesn’t eat right. He eats too much, and he doesn’t eat all of the right foods. He knows that, and that’s something he’s going to have to get a handle on, or he’s not going to be the best he can be. He’s aware of it, everybody in the building’s involved with it. He’ll be in fighting shape, I promise you that.”
Hearing his coach call him out about his weight will undoubtedly get Upshaw’s attention. He admitted last weekend that he was around 285 pounds, well over last season’s listed weight of 272. Upshaw got off on the wrong foot as a rookie when he failed his conditioning test on his first try. Reporting to OTA’s overweight was not the best way to get on Harbaugh’s good side.
Right now, Upshaw is probably a backup on the depth chart at outside linebacker behind Elvis Dumervil, but Upshaw played in all 16 games last season. For Upshaw’s playing time to go up, his weight likely will have to go down. Obviously, Harbaugh will be watching closely.
