Panthers pleased with Benjamin's efforts to lose weight

After stopping just short of calling Kelvin Benjamin fat earlier this offseason, Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera now says he's pleased with his fourth-year wideout's efforts to slim down.

"He's worked very hard when he's been around. He's done a great job," Rivera said of Benjamin recently, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. "He comes in and gets the extra treatment, gets in the whirlpool, gets in the steam, sauna, stuff like that. He’s been great. He knows it, and he’s been what you would hope he would be."

Rivera admitted last month that Benjamin was a ''little heavy'' after rumors swirled that the receiver weighed as much as 280 pounds.

Benjamin is listed at 245 pounds on the Panthers' roster, but probably plays closer to 250.

The Panthers recently decided to pick up Benjamin's fifth-year option, but waited until the deadline to do so.