Jason Kelce insists Eagles star is 'going to be a problem' for NFL rivals after weight gain
Jason Kelce has made comments on former teammate DeVonta Smith's impressive physical development in the off-season.
It was revealed by former NFL champion Chad Ochocinco that slight-framed Smith has increased his weight to 190 pounds following training sessions this offseason.
Kelce, making note of Smith's increased mass coinciding with his entry into fatherhood, joked on X: "That dad strength is starting to kick in. Kyse (Smith's daughter) got him working even on the off days! Gonna be problems for defences."
Having played alongside each other from 2021 until this previous season, when Kelce announced his retirement aged 36, the pair built a strong partnership. The period saw the Eagles' reach their fourth-ever Super Bowl in 2022, as Kelce produced three out of his six All-Pro seasons and Smith achieved over 1,000 yards in both 2022 and 2023.
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Smith, who became the first wide receiver to clinch the Heisman Trophy in 2020 for 29 years, has made a remarkable leap to the NFL despite his slight frame. The former Alabama standout tipped the scales at a mere 170 pounds when he joined the league, earning the affectionate moniker "Slim Reaper" during his college days in Tuscaloosa.
However, fatherhood appears to have ushered in a more robust version of Smith for the 2024 season. Ochocinco has let slip that the Eagles' fourth-year sensation has packed on an extra 20 pounds since his debut year.
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"I guarantee you when you see him this year, you gonna be like 'God Damn boy, you been working,'" Ochocinco said. "He’s about 190 [pounds], I kid you not."
The day before his team's opening game last season against the New England Patriots, Smith's partner gave birth, with the player marking the event with a touchdown and a "Rock the Baby" gesture as his team secured a 25-20 win.
Kelce has often sung the praises of being a dad. "I think one of the best things a person can be in this world is a father," Kelce said as part of his retirement speech last month. "A father who is present, loving, devoted just might be the greatest gift a child could ask for in our society, and I am a damn good one."
Despite Smith's initially lean frame and speed score at the NFL Combine, which placed him in the lower 11th percentile, the Eagles showed an unwavering confidence in the six-foot tall receiver due to his impressive college performance. They chose Smith as the 10th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, promptly making him a part of their starting lineup.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.
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