Lavonte David “Playing Like He’s 25”
November 14th, 2025
Todd Bowles reacts.
So Bucs icon Lavonte David is halfway through his 14th NFL season. He turns 36 in January.
Joe asked head coach Todd Bowles about that today.
David has disappeared completely from the Tampa Bay injury report, which had shown him with a knee issue for weeks. David’s tackle totals increased the past two games (9 against New England; 10 against New Orleans).
So what’s the state of No. 54, Coach?
“We don’t worry about his age; we worry about his legs,” Bowles said of David. “His legs look great. He’s playing like he’s 25. I don’t worry about [Lavonte]. I know he’s going to be ready to play.”
It’s a big Sunday ahead for David against the run-heavy Bills. Buffalo also is the team that seriously recruited David to play for them in free agency two years ago. Joe’s confident David remembers that well and that might put a little extra juice in his game Sunday.
The Bucs need their defensive playmakers to step up. David hasn’t had a sack, a forced fumble or a quarterback hit in the past three games.