The Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear to be falling apart at the worst possible time. Despite getting healthy over the past few weeks, the Buccaneers have lost five of their past six games, throwing the NFC South division completely up in the air. With the Carolina Panthers right on their tail, the Bucs need to get their act together, and soon, if they want to secure their spot in the postseason.
The good news (or bad news, depending on how you look at it) is that the Buccaneers will play two of their final three regular-season games against the Panthers, meaning they still control their own destiny when it comes to winning the division. And ahead of their upcoming Week 16 clash against Carolina, Tampa Bay has received an important injury update regarding star linebacker Lavonte David.
Lavonte David Returns to Practice for Buccaneers
The story of the Buccaneers’ 2025 campaign has been strange to say the least. Despite getting battered by injuries, Tampa Bay quickly established itself as one of the top teams in the league, thanks in large part to the play of quarterback Baker Mayfield. As the season has worn on, though, Mayfield’s play has regressed, even with the rest of the offense getting healthy around him.
The Bucs’ sudden collapse has put the team in a tough spot as the regular season begins to wind down. Had T.B. continued to play at the high level it was at early in the year, chances are they would be in position to wrap things up with a win over the Panthers in Week 16 (assuming they hadn’t already done so).
Instead, the Bucs are fighting for their lives, which makes their preparation for their upcoming game very important. On Wednesday, fans were concerned to see David miss practice due to a knee injury he’s dealing with, but he managed to return to practice on Thursday in a limited capacity, indicating he’s on track to suit up in Week 16.
“Lavonte David did indeed return to practice today in a limited capacity, so that’s great news. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin get a rest day,” River Wells of BucsGameday shared in a post on X.
Buccaneers Looking to Take Control of NFC South Division
GettyTampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Even with everything that has gone wrong for the Buccaneers, they still control their own destiny. While the Panthers have the same 7-7 record as them, if Tampa Bay is able to win two of their next three games, they will have a very good shot at walking away with the top spot in their division. Playing Carolina twice in that stretch, though, will increase the stakes for both teams significantly.
Having a tried-and-true veteran like David on the field is going to be crucial for the Bucs in their quest to hold off the upstart Panthers. The Buccaneers are the better team, and if they play like that, they will be able to find their way into the postseason. They have to get out of their own way first, though, and they will look to do just that on Sunday afternoon when they square off against the Panthers.
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