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2015 Packers Training Camp: B.J. Raji has slimmed down

The former first-round pick reported to Packers training camp at 327 pounds.

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With the exception of Ryan Pickett, no player on the Green Bay Packers has punished the weight scales more than B.J. Raji. Raji remains a man of considerable mass, but he looks a little slimmer entering the team's 2015 training camp. According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Raji has dropped 10 pounds since his last regular season appearance.

"I swear to God. I'm 327 pounds," Raji said over the weekend. "Haven't been this low since college."

While weigh-in figures aren't made official, it does appear as though Raji has reworked his body during his year off the field. He spent the 2014 season rehabbing from a torn biceps suffered during the preseason, reportedly incorporating yoga and better dietary habits to help prevent another serious injury.

Raji's weight loss may have been motivated by his contract status. For the second time in as many years, he finds himself playing under a one-year, "prove it" deal. If Raji provides the boost to the defense that Green Bay hopes for, he can expect to ink a much larger contract next offseason.

The Packers need a rejuvenated Raji to anchor the middle of their defense, especially with defensive linemen Letroy Guion and Datone Jones each set to miss the start of the season while serving suspensions. So far in camp, the base 3-4 defense has featured Raji at his nature nose tackle position with Guion at left end.

Jason B. Hirschhorn covers the Green Bay Packers for Acme Packing Company. He also serves as an NFL writer for SB Nation and Sports on Earth. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.