Bucs Rookie Nightmare: David Walker OUT for Season! 🏈🚨
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans received devastating news: rookie outside linebacker David Walker will miss the entire 2025 season due to a torn ACL. The injury occurred during practice last Friday, sidelining a player the team had high hopes for.
Walker's Promising Start Cut Short
Walker, drafted in the fourth round out of Central Arkansas, quickly impressed coaches during OTA practices and minicamp. He was expected to contribute significantly to the Buccaneers' edge rush rotation. Head Coach Todd Bowles expressed his disappointment, stating, "He was making a big impact early... Obviously, we were counting on him doing a lot of things."
Bowles added that Walker needs to view this as a "redshirt year." While the injury didn't appear severe on film, the diagnosis confirmed the worst. Walker will undergo surgery and be placed on injured reserve, ruling him out for the entire 2025 campaign.
Buccaneers' Edge Rush Plans Derailed
The Buccaneers had prioritized improving their edge rush this offseason after interior linemen Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea led the team in sacks in 2024. The selection of Walker, along with the signing of Haason Reddick, were key components of this strategy. Walker's absence creates a void in the team's defensive plans.
Walker's Impressive College Career
- Southern Arkansas (1 year)
- Central Arkansas (3 years)
Across his college career, Walker racked up impressive stats: 39.0 sacks, 82.5 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles, and eight passes defensed. He earned All-American honors in each of his three years at Central Arkansas and was named the United Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in both 2023 and 2024. The Buccaneers will now need other players to step up and fill the void left by Walker's injury.