Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David returned to the practice field Tuesday, providing a welcome boost to the defense as training camp continues. David had missed several days with what the team described as general soreness, but he was back in full pads and took part in team drills, signaling a return to form for one of the franchise’s most respected leaders.
David, now entering his 13th NFL season, looked sharp in positional work and showed no signs of discomfort as he moved around fluidly. His return couldn’t have come at a better time for a Bucs defense looking to build chemistry and consistency heading into preseason play. While David’s return is a positive development, fellow veteran Anthony Walker Jr. remains sidelined with what Bowles called lingering soreness. The team continues to take a cautious approach with the former Dolphins linebacker, who has yet to participate fully in training camp practice.
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In Walker’s absence, the Buccaneers have leaned on a rotation that includes Deion Jones, SirVocea Dennis, and Nick Jackson. Jones is the most experienced behind David, but Dennis is the projected starter. Walker Jr was brought in to challenge, and Jackson continues to show promise in camp.
With preseason just around the corner, having both healthy would go a long way toward solidifying the middle of the defense. For now, David’s return is a major step in the right direction for what could be the defensive group with the most rotation come September.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs linebacker room continues to get healthy and work towards success