Bryant McKinnie won’t be down to his ideal playing weight in time for Sunday’s opener with the Steelers, but he’s getting closer.
McKinnie has dropped 10 pounds since signing with the Ravens, leaving him right around 360 two days before the season gets underway. He’s down 27 pounds since weighing in 387 pounds when he was cut by the Vikings last month. McKinnie told Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times that he would like to get down to his old college weight of 343 pounds this season, although he has played about 10-15 pounds heavier throughout his NFL career.
“I lost 10 since I got here,” McKinnie said. “That’s definitely helping out a lot and I continue to lose a few more. I got my old college number back [No. 78], so I’m trying to get back to my old college weight. I’m in the 360s.”
Losing the weight is just part of what McKinnie needs to accomplish to provide the Ravens with the kind of play they’re hoping for after signing the veteran left tackle during training camp. He also needs to learn the playbook and develop a rapport with his teammates. McKinnie said that left guard Ben Grubbs is helping on that front, but acknowledged that it will take him a few weeks before he feels totally comfortable in his new surroundings.
Taken together, the weight and unfamiliarity with the offense figures to make for a long afternoon for McKinnie against the Steelers defense.