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.
November 14th, 2025 at 1:03 pm
We’ll all miss LVD after he retires this season
November 14th, 2025 at 1:06 pm
Why does he have to dramatize it. LVD is the man and we need him but I hope he retires at the end of the year because he’s showing his age.
November 14th, 2025 at 1:08 pm
Just got my 50 year anniversary Fire the Cannons hardback book. There is no spotlight section on LVD. Instead: Kwon Alexander. What the actual F.
November 14th, 2025 at 1:08 pm
Ironman!
November 14th, 2025 at 1:27 pm
His missed tackle rate in the worst of his career.
November 14th, 2025 at 1:29 pm
LVD54 HOFer!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
November 14th, 2025 at 1:44 pm
Oh brother…
How ridiculous.
PFF has LVD graded out at a 58.8 – which is #51 out of #80 ILBs in the NFL.
So he is playing like a 25 year old back-up ILB.
Congrats!!!
Sorry but this team is wasting 25% of it’s entire salary cap on Evans, Godwin and LVD.
But hey no worries – the Bucs lead the league in loyalty to washed up players.
November 14th, 2025 at 1:50 pm
No he’s not!
November 14th, 2025 at 1:50 pm
Worried these backup guards are going to ruin this game.
November 14th, 2025 at 1:52 pm
Haven’t seen anything positive out of any of them except maybe Haggard and Jordan once in a while.
November 14th, 2025 at 2:03 pm
He has lost a step but is smarter than ever.
November 14th, 2025 at 2:08 pm
People saying he has lost a step are wrong.
He has only lost a step recently because he’s been dealing with a knee injury for weeks.
November 14th, 2025 at 2:11 pm
25 lol. hardly. everyone loves LVD but he isnt playing like he’s 25.
November 14th, 2025 at 2:27 pm
LVD is great, but his production has fallen off. Partially because of age, partially because of defensive game calling, and partially because his team mates are not holding up their part of the bargain. Lots of idiotic play at LB and in the secondary.
November 14th, 2025 at 2:33 pm
Watch the defensive secondary against Buffalo. They’re healthy and LVD has been on their cases. 7-3, Bucs!!
November 14th, 2025 at 2:51 pm
Tru warrior. Best to ever wear a Bucs jersey. Check the stats n I ain’t talking pro bowls
November 14th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
I like all the idiots earlier this year bashing David before the Seattle game, then he goes out and has the game winning play. No idea where the hatred for him and Godwin and Evans comes from other than likely some sort of repressed feelings due to hanging out in one too many locker rooms.
November 14th, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Playing like he is 25 wtf settle down no he isn’t.
November 14th, 2025 at 3:09 pm
David may have lost a step, but I wish Dennis was even close to David at mlb. The Bucs have missed on a mlb for 2 years in a row. He is consistant at being lost at different times each week for explosive plays it appears. Right now he is killing us there. It it just me or is Winfield lost some where too?. It seems the only people playing on defense are Vita, David, Parrish, and Dean. The rookie Roberts appears to be improving. Nelson is always good for spot plays, and he plays hard.