Kevin

Minter

David left Tampa’s Week 5 win over Miami with the ankle injury. He was seen on the sideline in obvious pain before making his way to the locker room. There was apparently no way David, 31, was going to get right before the Bucs’ Thursday night matchup against Philadelphia. Expect veteran LB Kevin Minter to fill in for David over the next week or two. The injury-ravaged Tampa defense will miss David, one of the league’s premiere coverage linebackers. His absence makes Jalen Hurts’ Week 6 prospects a little brighter against the pass-funnel Tampa defense.

Minter mostly serves as a special teamer for Tampa. He started one game for the Bucs in 2020 and make 10 solo tackles on the season. A Buc since 2018, Minter, 30, will remain one of the team’s most important special teams players.

This adds depth with starting ILB Devin White returning in the Divisional Round. Getting Minter back will help the Bucs on special teams.

Minter started in Tampa Bay’s last two games, most recently collecting six tackles and one pass defended in Saturday’s Wild Card win against Washington. Devin White, who was activated from the COVID list Monday, is expected to return to the team’s starting lineup in the Divisional Round against the Saints.

Minter appeared in all 16 games but made just two starts last year. He has strong ties to Bruce Arians and DC Todd Bowles from their Arizona days. The core special teamer will be brought back for the veteran minimum.

Minter was with coach Bruce Arians and DC Todd Bowles in Arizona earlier in his career and will stick around to compete for a job in a linebacker corps that saw Kwon Alexander leave as a free agent for the 49ers.

Minter had been playing about 5-6 weekly snaps since Week 11. He was signed in October following a biblical wave of Bucs linebacker injuries. Minter turned 28 earlier this month.

The Bucs are short ‘backers after losing two to torn ACLs in Week 7. A longtime Cardinals starter, Minter made nine 2017 appearances for the Jets. He will likely see immediate snaps in Tampa.

Brinkley gets the initial nod over second-rounder Kevin Minter, but that could merely be based on seniority. Before long, we fully expect Minter to win the job and start all four games while Daryl Washington is suspended. Washington worked with the second team Tuesday.

Minter is a violent, attacking linebacker who excels against the run. As Daryl Washington serves out his suspension, Minter is all but locked into a starting role next to Karlos Dansby in Todd Bowles’ 3-4 defense.