Washington Commanders

Terrance Knighton explains how he became 'Pot Roast'

Published Jun. 29, 2015 5:05 p.m. ET

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When you tip the scales at nearly 340 pounds, you can't be surprised when you earn a nickname after a meal. For Washington Redskins nose tackle Terrance Knighton, the "Pot Roast" nickname has become a part of who he is over the last six years. The origin of how he became Pot Roast is not what you would expect.

“A guy named Clint Ingram from my rookie year," Knighton told Redskins.com. "On the plane ride back from Seattle to Jacksonville, it’s six-hour flight so it was dark on the plane. Everyone’s asleep, so the stewardess is walking down the aisle with food, ‘Pot roast, pot roast!’ and I was like, ‘Here.’ So then my teammate at the time was like, ‘You say that like it’s your name.’ It stuck with me six years later, and I’m glad I order pot roast and not shrimp alfredo.”

Knighton currently weighs over his projected goal, but he believes that he is on schedule to get to his ideal weight by the time the regular season rolls around. His goal is to slim down to 350 pounds before training camp, before eventually playing somewhere in the 340s during the regular season.

After compiling 34 combined quarterback hurries, hits and sacks and grading out as one of Pro Football Focus' 10 best run-defending defensive tackles in 2014, Knighton is expected to be a key cog in the Redskins' improved defensive front.

(h/t Redskins Blog)

Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports