Brock Huard: Russell Wilson’s apparent weight gain is a good thing
Mar 29, 2016, 9:36 AM | Updated: 10:40 am
Russell Wilson has been listed at 206 pounds since entering the NFL in 2012. (AP)
(AP)
BY
Staff report
Brock Huard used to have difficulty putting on weight during his playing days, and it indirectly led to injuries.
The opposite appears to be the case for Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, and that, Huard believes, is a good thing.
“His weight will fluctuate,” Huard said of Wilson. “I think he will be a 210-225 guy, and I think he’ll be a bigger guy when he’s done (with the game). Quite honestly, would I rather have him be a 200- or 205-pound guy year round? No. I’d rather have him be able to absorb a lot of the hits that he’s taken.”
Related: Video: Seahawks’ Paul Richardson catching passes from Russell Wilson
The conversation of Wilson’s weight came up after some not-so-flattering photos surfaced Monday of Wilson with his fiancee, Ciara, and her son at Disneyland.
Huard remembers the opposite scenarios when he was quarterback at the University of Washington.
“Scott Linehan, my old offensive coordinator in college said, ‘Would you please have some beers and eat some pizza? I don’t need you at 4 percent body fat. Will you please add a little weight or you’re going to sprain an ankle or separate a shoulder because you just can’t be this lean playing the position.'” Huard recalled. “I couldn’t keep enough weight on me. I’d get to 225, I’d feel good, strong. And then all of the sudden I’d stop taking Creatine and then I’d get down to 215 and I’d get hurt. I didn’t have enough body fat.”
Huard speculated that Wilson’s weight fluctuates from around 208 – when he was in peak shape at the NFL scouting combine in 2012 – to about 225 during the offseason. He said the extra weight shouldn’t impact Wilson’s speed since he has always proven his ability to lose the five to 10 pounds by the time August rolls around. Huard compared Wilson to his former teammate Jon Kitna, who wasn’t the leanest quarterback but was never injured and was on the field for every play.
“Russell is going to be a guy in his 30s who will probably have to fight his weight a little bit,” Huard said. “And I don’t think, honestly, that’s a bad thing. Because what has that weight helped him do, unlike with Tyrod Taylor or Troy Smith: He’s been able to stay healthy.”
