The David Walker Files — Game 1
August 14th, 2026
Joe had a keen eye on Bucs edge rusher David Walker making his NFL debut tonight against the Jets in the preseason opener.
Walker entered the game as the NFL’s all-time hype leader among 26-year-olds out of the University of Central Arkansas.
That’s right. Walker is 26. The 2025 fourth-round pick had his rookie season erased by a July ACL (knee) tear. This summer in training camp, Walker has looked like a pass rusher with legit potential. The Bucs front office has been gassing up Walker since the moment he was drafted.
So what did Walker do tonight?
Walker had two special teams tackles in punt coverage. That’s darn good. He also played on kickoff coverage, where he didn’t look very good.
(What Walker was doing on the field on fourth down is unclear. If he’s really a dangerous pass rusher, then why risk his body? Wasn’t anything learned from what happened to Jacquies Smith in 2016?)
Walker’s pass rush work was ok. He didn’t get a lot of opportunities. And no, Joe doesn’t think Walker’s pressure led to the Bucs’ impressive pick-6 by Ayden Garnes. At one point, the Jets double-teamed Walker on the edge. Walker also dropped once in coverage. And more than once he looked a little gassed; or he wasn’t playing with his hair on fire. (Joe doesn’t want to believe Walker loafed.)
It’s presason Game 1. This isn’t Joe knocking Walker. Just paying attention.
The Bucs need all the pass rush help they can get.
August 14th, 2026 at 9:50 pm
When will you start giving the responsibility where it belongs? You know very well you described is a garbage Head Coach. ??This post is about David Walker. –Joe
August 14th, 2026 at 9:58 pm
He had a great double spin pressure on the Williams INT. Thought he looked good, not great, overall but had a couple pretty good rushes.
August 14th, 2026 at 10:00 pm
Def thought he got pressure / forced early pass on pick 6
August 14th, 2026 at 10:02 pm
Thought his get off was a little slower than I hoped – but nice bend on that pick 6.
August 14th, 2026 at 10:18 pm
First game in over 14-16 months, looked good, pretty sure he had every emotions leading up to and during this game tonight. Just the beginning, first meaningful snaps as a pro. Matter of time before Walker gets a matchup he can win snap to snap, but he had a solid night for the sample size.
August 14th, 2026 at 10:18 pm
Walker’s pass rush work was ok. He didn’t get a lot of opportunities. And no, Joe doesn’t think Walker’s pressure led to the Bucs’ impressive pick-6 by Ayden Garnes.
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Maybe the TV view was deceptive, but he sure looked like he pressured the QB into the bad throw.
The times I watched and paid attention to him, I thought he looked great. He was getting good pressure, and showing off a good number of moves. Not sure what people think he’s going to in limited snaps, but he looked pretty great for a guy playing in his first NFL game, coming from D2, and having missed a year.
August 14th, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Jack Pyburn was showing out late-game.
August 14th, 2026 at 10:31 pm
Rocky Says:
August 14th, 2026 at 9:50 pm
When will you start giving the responsibility where it belongs? You know very well you described is a garbage Head Coach. ??This post is about David Walker. –Joe
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Slap down — right out of the gate!
August 14th, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Joe
What game were you watching
He def caused pressure on that Pick 6
Other than that pretty pedestrian
Hurst was aaight, shoulda snagged that TD but the corner broke the ball loose
That Pick 6 was the highlight of game
Also ROBERTS !!!! = BEAST
August 14th, 2026 at 10:47 pm
From the TV broadcast it certainly looked like he got some pressure on that pick-6, at the very least moving the QB off his mark. Maybe it was a deceptive angle though, I couldn’t rewind it.
August 14th, 2026 at 11:02 pm
I seen some nice movies an a pressure on a pick 6 first real game in 15 months im impressed very excited but don’t want to see him on ST no more I think he can be very useful in the Regular season don’t get Cute
August 14th, 2026 at 11:28 pm
Its about our coach having not a clue how to use the “steal of the draft”. He is still doing what he has done for the last 5 years and you think we will have a better year? Draft talks will be ok this website in a month and a half and cant wait for you pretending like you never defended Bowles.
August 15th, 2026 at 7:31 am
@WBL
I was thinking the same thing. First snaps in over a year, got to be a little rust to knock off
August 15th, 2026 at 7:56 am
He’s just another over hyped Buc who won’t amount to anything. He looked like a 26 year old who never played an NFL game coming off an ACL. Time to get real about this guy. The good news is, Pyrun, who looked bigger, faster, with more tude showed up with 2 sacks. Something to work with there. Tamper expectations for Walker. He’s not what the Tampa media has been making him out to be.
August 15th, 2026 at 8:06 am
Jose, as you’ve said before, we have a lot of pass rushers. Like it or not Walker will play special teams. This is not college with 85 man rosters.
August 15th, 2026 at 9:04 am
It’s the truth of this league, backup players have to play special teams. He is not a starter! Until such a time he will be expected to play special teams. This isn’ta college roster with 102 kids. 53 is right after 25 starters counting wr3 nickel and backup qb that only leaves 23 to fill all the special teams told rolls.
August 15th, 2026 at 10:52 am
I don’t think Walker did anything special…but it was his first game in 2 years or more, and his first NFL game. That’s why Preseason is important. Get the young guys some exposure.
August 15th, 2026 at 11:04 am
It’s hilarious that people wonder aloud what the thought process is from this team.
Steaming pile of cow manure> Todd Bowles as the HC\DC
August 15th, 2026 at 11:42 am
I think we need to give him some time to develop. Basically he is a rookie with his first pre-season game. He already did much better than Braswell, at least he did get around the offensive tackle and gave some blind side pressure to the QB on the pick six. The two special teams tackles are a good sign. Let him play a full season and then see where he is at.
August 15th, 2026 at 11:53 am
A little disappointed with Walker and the edge as a whole. They guy that had 2 sacks wont make the team, and it came in the 4th. We need production from the edge this year, not pressures, Sacks!!! Walker was hyped all camp about pushing for a starting spot. Its either the Bucs O line is garbage or Walker hype isnt anything but…..hype. It’s preseason game 1 but even PR was stating that walker would have 2 sacks tonight!
August 15th, 2026 at 12:26 pm
“I was thinking the same thing. First snaps in over a year, got to be a little rust to knock off“
Def made the play on the Wisdom pick, and was 2nd man to the QB on the Roberts sack. Dropped into the flat once, and carried an RB to the second level but the ball went elsewhere and nobody complained him being in coverage.
August 15th, 2026 at 12:57 pm
@WBL
You mean nobody complained, YET. LOL
August 15th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Lakeland, problem with giving him time to develop is he’s already 26, Ood for a rookie,. Bain, and Trotter are 21, plenty of time to develop. Hourglass has already run out for Walker.