Battling for a spot on the 53-man roster, Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Danny Shelton made a small change that could go a long way in helping his on-field performance.
The 30-year-old lineman, who is listed around 6-foot-2 and 345 pounds, shed a bit of weight, improving the way he moves and feels.
“This time last year I was probably like upper (3)50s,” Shelton said during Monday’s press conference. “Right now I’m about 12 pounds under. I used to use intermittent fasting but then I got stuck, it wasn’t working anymore. I did carb cycling in March in OTAs and it worked like magic for me. (My) energy has been great, feel great, joints feel great and everything.”
It may not seem like much, but cutting even five or 10 pounds can make a big difference for a normal person, let alone someone who plays a sport that favors those with speed. And Shelton, who was on the Chiefs’ roster last year but only played in one game, needs every bit of an advantage he can get to make his way back onto the team’s 53-man roster when cut day arrives on August 29.
Shelton has had a very good preseason so far, earning two quarterback pressures (including a sack) and two tackles (including a defensive stop) on 30 snaps. One final solid preseason performance against the Cleveland Browns on August 26 could lock Shelton’s roster spot in Kansas City.
