Buccaneers' 2025 late round pick races to recover for OTAs

Injured pass rusher David Walker faces tight timeline to return from torn ACL in time for Tampa Bay's offseason program.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 5:35pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the powerful movements of a football player engaged in a pass rush, with sharp planes of color and form conveying the raw energy of the sport.An abstract, cubist-inspired illustration captures the intensity and dynamism of a pass rusher's movements as he fights to make an impact on the field.Today in Tampa

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2025 fourth-round draft pick David Walker is in a race against the clock to recover from a torn ACL suffered just three days into training camp last year. The young pass rusher is hoping to be ready in time for the team's offseason program, but his status remains uncertain as he works to regain his form after missing the entire 2025 season.

Why it matters

The Buccaneers are counting on Walker to provide a boost to their pass rush, but his lack of high-level playing experience and limited length at 6-foot-1 with under 32-inch arms could make his transition to the NFL challenging. Tampa Bay will be closely monitoring Walker's progress as they look to reload their defense for the 2026 season.

The details

Walker, who had an impressive senior season at the University of Central Arkansas with 10.5 sacks and four forced fumbles, is hoping to be ready for the Buccaneers' minicamp or training camp. However, the team's general manager Jason Licht acknowledged that Walker's timeline is still uncertain as the young pass rusher works to recover from the torn ACL.

  • Walker suffered the torn ACL just three days into Buccaneers training camp in 2025.
  • The Buccaneers' offseason program, including minicamp, is scheduled to begin in late spring 2026.
  • Tampa Bay's 2026 training camp is expected to start in late July 2026.

The players

David Walker

A 2025 fourth-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Walker is a young pass rusher who is working to recover from a torn ACL suffered early in his rookie training camp. He is hoping to be ready in time for the team's 2026 offseason program.

Jason Licht

The general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Licht acknowledged that Walker's timeline for return is still uncertain as the young pass rusher works to recover from the torn ACL that cost him the entire 2025 season.

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What they’re saying

“The trajectory we're heading on right now, I really don't know. It's up to the trainers, how good they feel, the confidence they have in my knee and the confidence I have ultimately. I'm hoping to be ready for mini-camp, but either [mini-camp] or [training camp]”

— David Walker, Buccaneers linebacker

“He's what we call 'kind of a freak.' He got through everything. I heard that countless times through the trainers that he's way ahead of schedule”

— Jason Licht, Buccaneers general manager

What’s next

The Buccaneers will continue to closely monitor Walker's recovery progress and make a determination on his status for the start of the 2026 season as he works to return from the torn ACL.

The takeaway

The Buccaneers are counting on Walker to provide a boost to their pass rush, but his recovery timeline remains uncertain after missing the entire 2025 season. Tampa Bay will need to be patient with the young defender as he works to overcome the setback and prove he can make an impact at the NFL level.