AP

Weight continues to be a problem for Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley.

Early this offseason the Lions declined the 2015 option on Fairley’s contract in part because they hoped that playing for a new deal next year would motivate him to lose weight. At first, that worked well — actually, too well, as Fairley lost around 30 pounds and got down to 295, which the team said was too skinny. Fairley then gained back about 10 pounds, and apparently all was well.

But now MLive.com reports that Fairley has continued to pack on the pounds, and has been demoted to the second-team defense in practice this week.

Given how many calories are burned during August practices, and given that players are confined in close quarters where healthy food is provided by the team, it seems almost inconceivable that a player could gain excessive body fat during training camp. It’s hard to understand how Fairley could balloon up at this time of year.

Whatever is going on with Fairley, he’s now running with the second team. Not where he wants to be heading into a contract year.