Mekhi Becton turns to personal chef in effort to maintain weight
2 min read
Mekhi Becton’s calling card throughout his football career has been his mammoth frame. Listed at 6-foot-7 and 363 pounds, there are not too many players in the NFL bigger than New York’s star offensive tackle.
That same frame could be working against Becton entering his second season with the Jets, though. Becton is currently nursing a foot injury that will keep him out until training camp at the earliest and there are concerns that his weight could make the injury a recurring issue as his career progresses.
That 363 pounds is a lot of weight for a player to carry — especially one who is at his best when he is as light on his feet as possible in pass protection — and there is a chance Becton weighs more than what he is listed. The Louisville product said Tuesday that he is not sure of his exact weight right now, though the Jets have weigh-ins for their players. He is, however, taking steps to ensure his weight concerns do not become a serious problem, retaining the services of a personal chef. Becton’s diet now consists of mostly fish and vegetables
“I feel like I’m at a good weight right now,” Becton said Tuesday. “I’m doing extra things on my own to keep it that way, eating the right things. I got a chef, doing everything right to maintain my weight… I would say I’m doing everything in my power to keep it down.”
Becton’s weight is an issue that dates back to his rookie year. He admitted before the beginning of last season that he weighed 370 pounds and ended last season around 380 pounds, prompting discipline from the team, per the New York Post’s Brian Costello. Robert Saleh has been working with Becton to make sure he gets his weight situation straightened out, though, saying earlier this spring that New York needs to find the right number for Becton to maintain his strength while also staying healthy.
“I’ve just been doing extra conditioning,” Becton said. “Biking on my own, running on my own, jogging on my own, walking on my own, just doing the little things that matter like abs and everything. Just doing the extra stuff that I need to do.”
