Lavonte

David

It seems like, with Wednesday’s practice being a walkthrough, the Buccaneers opted to go easy on some of their veterans. Lavonte David (knee/rib) and Winfield both upgraded from DNPs to limited sessions on Thursday, putting them in line to play. The same can’t be said for EDGE Haason Reddick (ankle/knee), who remained a DNP and could be in line to miss more weeks. We’re a little surprised Todd Bowles didn’t rule out Reddick when he said that Bucky Irving and Chris Godwin weren’t going to play this week, but he did say they were still waiting for the results of his MRI when asked about it on Wednesday.

Several Tampa Bay defenders did not practice on Wednesday. Lavonte David and Antoine Winfield are among the most notable names on the list. David is dealing with knee and rib issues while Winfield has a toe injury. Coming off a Monday night game, the Bucs might be giving their veterans some maintenance days because of the short week. Still, it’s notable just how many big names they have on the injury report. A banged-up Bucs defense could help Spencer Rattler get back on track after throwing three interceptions in Week 7.

ESPN’s Jenna Laine reports that the deal contains $9 million in guaranteed money. David, 35, is coming off a season where he procured 122 tackles and 5.5 sacks while helping the Buccaneers win the NFC South. The 13-year veteran should again be a strong option up the middle for the Tampa Bay defense, even if he isn’t quite the same player he was a few years ago.

David, 35, has spent his entire 13-year career with the Buccaneers and is still producing at a high level. The veteran linebacker racked up 122 total tackles and 5.5 sacks while also forcing three fumbles and one interception. While the Bucs are willing to give David time to decide on his playing future, Anderson reports other teams have also checked in on the possibility of David’s willingness to play elsewhere in 2025.

LB Lavonte David (ankle, chest) is also expected to play despite missing practice on Thursday and Friday. Winfield Jr. practiced in a limited fashion on Friday and was added to the injury report, but he’s set to play. Bowles also said that DB Tykee Smith has cleared the concussion protocol. WR Mike Evans (hamstring), DL Greg Gaines (calf), and LS Evan Deckers (hamstring) are out for Week 9.

Winfield was sidelined by a foot injury in Weeks 2-5. His reappearance on Friday’s report could indicate he re-injured it. The Buccaneers’ defense has dealt with significant injuries all year. This is one to watch ahead of the Buccaneers’ Monday Night Football Showdown against the Chiefs. LB Lavonte David (chest/ankle) has been unable to practice through two days this week.

Campbell’s words are reassuring but fantasy managers should closely monitor the situation. Buccaneers LB Lavonte David delivered a lateral hit to St. Brown’s lower left leg, akin to the classic roll-up mechanism that sometimes results knee and ankle injuries. He appeared to be in a considerable amount of pain at the end of the game. St. Brown has a long history of playing through injury so panic over his Week 3 availability is unwarranted at this time.

David is the latest re-sign with the Buccaneers, as they have successfully retained three key members of their roster over the last week. David, 34, has spent all 12 years of his career with the Buccaneers and is coming off a season in which he totaled 134 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Despite his age, David continues to be a key contributor to a Tampa Bay defense that allowed the seventh-fewest points per game last season and the fifth-fewest rush yards per game.

After being sidelined for Week 13 against the Panthers, David was back on the field Wednesday and practiced at full capacity throughout the week. The Bucs No. 1 linebacker should be good to go for this week’s matchup against the Falcons. While David is back, fellow linebacker Devin White (foot) will not play in Week 14, marking his second consecutive missed game.

David missed Week 13 because of the groin issue but appears to be ready to return after missing just a single game. David has three sacks and 14 TFLs on top of his 90 total tackles this year. His return will help Tampa Bay’s defense fend off a strong ground game from the Falcons.