Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Will play against San Francisco
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David (knee) does not carry an injury designation heading into Sunday's game against the 49ers, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
David was limited in practice all week due to a lingering knee injury, but the veteran linebacker has been cleared to play in Sunday's home game. David is up to 34 total tackles through five regular-season games and is on pace to record a fourth straight 100-tackle season, which would be the 12th of his NFL career.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Limited Thursday
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David (knee) remained limited in Thursday's practice, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
David has been nursing the knee injury for a few weeks but has continued to play through it and has produced 34 tackles (17 solo), including 1.5 sacks, and two pass breakups, including one interception, on more than 99 percent of the defensive snaps through five games.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Still nursing knee injury
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David (knee) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
David has managed lower-body injuries since training camp, though he's played in each of the first five games of the regular season and has logged 34 tackles (17 solo), including 1.5 sacks, and two pass defenses (one interception). David should be cleared to play against the 49ers on Sunday unless he suffers a setback in the coming days.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Good to go for Week 5
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David (knee) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
The 35-year-old has played over 99 percent of the defensive snaps this season and has produced 25 tackles (12 solo), including 1.5 sacks, four QB hits and one pass breakup across four games.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Logs limited practice Thursday
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David (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
David has opened the week with an LP-LP practice report due to a knee injury that he likely picked up during the Buccaneers' Week 4 loss to the Eagles. The veteran linebacker's practice participation Friday will indicate his chances of playing against the Seahawks on Sunday. Deion Jones and John Bullock would be candidates to start at inside linebacker Sunday if David is not cleared to play.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Low output in Week 4 loss
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David recorded three total tackles (one solo) in Sunday's 31-25 loss to the Eagles.
David was limited to three or fewer tackles for the second time this year after having just two such tallies over 17 regular-season games last year. The linebacker has now compiled 25 total tackles (12 solo), including 1.5 sacks, while also adding a pass defensed over four games this season.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Posts prolific line Sunday
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David racked up 11 tackles, including 1.0 sacks, in a 29-27 Week 3 win against the Jets on Sunday.
David led the Bucs in tackles while reaching the double-digit mark for the first time this season. The veteran linebacker also recorded a fourth-quarter sack of Tyrod Taylor, and though David briefly exited due to an injury after that play, he was able to re-enter the contest after missing just two defensive snaps. David has 22 stops, including 1.5 sacks, through three games this season.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Finishes with nine tackles Week 1
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David logged nine tackles (three solo) in Sunday's 23-20 win over Atlanta.
David finished fourth on the Bucs in stops, as the team had three players hit the double-digit mark. Among the linebacker's tackles was one that went for a loss, and he also registered a QB hit. David has reached triple-digit tackles in seven of his past eight seasons and is off to a fast start in his quest to reach that mark again this year.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Managing leg injury and soreness
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David is day-to-day with a leg injury and soreness, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
David is 35 years old and entering his 14th NFL season, so there's no reason for the Bucs to push the veteran linebacker during training camp. He knows the defense and is coming off a 2024 campaign that saw David start all 17 regular-season contests, finishing with 122 tackles (76 solo), including 5.5 sacks, his most since 2017.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Another standout season in books
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David posted 122 tackles (76 solo), including 5.5 sacks, six defensed passes, including his first interception since the 2020 season, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery across 17 regular-season games in 2024.
David was his usual stalwart self while playing in every regular-season game for the second time in the last three seasons, and he also totaled eight tackles, including 1.0 sacks, across 68 snaps in the Buccaneers' wild-card loss to the Commanders. The seemingly ageless linebacker played the 2024 campaign on a one-year, $8.5 million contract, and given he's still clearly productive at age 34, it wouldn't be surprising to see David re-up with the Buccaneers yet again, even if it's just for another season.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Upgrades to full practice Thursday
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David (knee) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
David was limited in Wednesday's walkthrough due to a knee injury he likely picked up during the Buccaneers' Week 18 win over the Saints, during which he played every defensive snap and finished with nine tackles (four solo) and one pass defense. Unless he suffers a setback over the next few days, David should be good to go against the Commanders in Sunday's NFC wild-card round clash. David posted 122 combines tackles in 17 regular-season games, which is the 11th time in his 13-year NFL career that he has recorded at least 100 tackles in a season.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Starts week limited
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David (knee) was listed as limited on Wednesday's injury report.
David played 100 percent of the Buccaneers' defensive snaps in Sunday's win over the Saints. His limited status may be a case of maintenance as the 34-year-old linebacker and his teammates begin preparing for Sunday's wild-card game against the Commanders. However, his status will likely be worth monitoring Thursday and Friday to see if he can ramp up his activity level ahead of Sunday's playoff matchup.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Standout showing in Week 18 win
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David posted nine tackles (four solo) and defensed a pass in the Buccaneers' 27-19 win over the Saints on Sunday.
David finished second on the team in tackles behind cornerback Josh Hayes, eclipsing the 120-tackle mark for the third straight season in the process. The seemingly ageless linebacker enjoyed another highly productive campaign in 2024, suiting up for all 17 games and posting 122 tackles (76 solo), including 5.5 sacks, six defensed passes, including his first interception since the 2020 season, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. David will continue to be an integral part of the Buccaneers defense in Sunday night's wild-card matchup against the Commanders.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Solid outing in loss
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David recorded eight tackles (seven solo) during Tampa Bay's loss Sunday versus the Cowboys.
David's productive season continues, as he's now racked up eight or more tackles in three of his past four outings and 10 times total across 15 games played. The 2012 second-round pick will look to keep producing and add to his totals during the team's Week 17 matchup versus the Panthers.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Standout performance in win
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David supplied 12 tackles (eight solo), including 1.5 sacks, and was credited with three total quarterback hits in the Buccaneers' 40-17 over the Chargers on Sunday.
David comfortably led the Buccaneers on stops on the afternoon with a figure that was also his highest since the divisional-round loss to the Lions in January. The veteran linebacker is turning in top-notch play down the stretch, as he's recorded at least eight tackles in five of the last seven contests. David's 1.5 sacks also pushed his season total to 5.5, his best mark since way back in the 2013 season.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Leaves game with ankle injury
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David (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against Atlanta, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
David had seven tackles (four solo) before leaving in the second half of Sunday's game. He went back to the locker room after being checked on by trainers, and while he's sidelined, Antonio Grier and J.J. Russell should see more snaps at inside linebacker alongside starter K.J. Britt.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Forced fumble in loss
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David recorded eight total tackles (three solo) and a forced fumble in Sunday's 26-7 loss to the Broncos.
David finished second on the team to cornerback Jamel Dean in takedowns while forcing a fumble on a carry by Denver running back Javonte Williams in the second quarter, which was ultimately recovered by teammate Logan Hall. David has now compiled 21 total tackles (12 solo) and a forced fumble over the first three games in 2024.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Remaining with Bucs
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David has agreed to terms on a one-year, $9 million contract with the Buccaneers to remain in Tampa Bay, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
David is one of several players Tampa Bay is bringing back for the 2024 campaign. He led the team last year with 134 tackles (86 solo), including 4.5 sacks, to go along with five passes defensed and a forced fumble. The 34-year-old also accumulated 17 tackles for loss, which are the second-most in a single season by a player age 33 or older. A second-round draft pick in 2012, the veteran projects to continue starting at inside linebacker for the Bucs' defense.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Standout performance in loss
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David posted 13 tackles (nine solo), including a sack and an additional tackle for loss, in the Buccaneers' 31-23 divisional-round loss to the Lions on Sunday.
The veteran linebacker was all over the field against a talented Lions offense, tying his second-highest tackle total since the start of the regular season. David's breakout finish to the 2023 campaign was fitting, considering he collected 134 tackles (86 total), including 4.5 sacks, five defensed passes and one forced fumble over 15 regular-season contests. Despite the fact David turns 34 on Tuesday, the fact he put together what was arguably his best all-around season since 2015 this past campaign makes him an intriguing pending unrestricted free agent the Buccaneers will likely have to make a difficult decision on this offseason.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Solid showing in wild-card win
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David totaled five tackles (all solo), including two for loss, in the Buccaneers' 32-9 wild-card win over the Eagles on Monday night.
David was a distant second in stops on the night to surprise tackle leader Jamel Dean (10 tackles), but the veteran linebacker still put together a solid performance. David's pass-coverage savvy was partly responsible for Tampa Bay containing tight end Dallas Goedert -- who was expected to be a bigger part of the Eagles' air attack in the absence of A.J. Brown (knee) -- to just four catches and 21 yards, albeit with one of those going for a touchdown. David should be busy once again in Sunday's road divisional-round clash against the Lions, considering rookie TE sensation Sam LaPorta awaits.
