Bucs’ Lavonte David could end his decorated career on a historic note

TAMPA, Fla. — It was Week 7, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were playing the Detroit Lions on “Monday Night Football” when it happened. Receiver Mike Evans, the franchise’s leading scorer, lay motionless on the Ford Field turf after a violent collision with cornerback Rock Ya-Sin.

Everyone knew it, and soon so did Evans when he regained consciousness and felt the burning impact of a broken collarbone, his eyes filling with tears. His quest for a 12th straight 1,000-yard receiving season would likely be over, ending his chances of breaking a tie with Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice.

It was also most likely the end of a once-promising 2025 season for the Bucs, who, at that point with a 5-2 record, were contending for first place in the NFC. Now, heading into Week 18, the Bucs (7-9) have lost seven of their last eight, and their playoff fate will be partially written Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) when they host the Carolina Panthers (8-8) at Raymond James Stadium. Not only will the Bucs need to beat the Panthers, but they will also need the New Orleans Saints to beat the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday to win the division.

On that cold October night in Detroit, linebacker Lavonte David was there to pick up Evans. The 12-year captain and 14-year veteran quietly prayed for Evans, asked his “brother” to get up and helped him to the sidelines.

“For me, personally, he means everything because he hasn’t just been a captain, a quarterback, an on-field coach and a playmaker. He’s been the constant pillar that’s been here since I’ve been here for seven years now,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said of David, adding that he “always shows up,” not just in the form of a big play, but in who he is as a person. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player do what he did from a defensive standpoint that I’ve probably ever coached. [with] the way he conducts his business, the way he carries himself and the way he leads the team. When [he is no longer playing for the Bucs]it will be a heartbreaking moment at that time. »

David, who turns 36 later this month, and Evans, 32, know football’s next defeat is not promised. They’re pretty focused on this season and what’s at stake, but could this be the end for two of the most iconic players in franchise history? There had already been rumors about whether this would be each player’s final season, but despite this, they are both expected to become free agents at the end of it.

Evans, now in Year 12, said David meant “everything” to him and their team.

“He’s the ultimate leader,” Evans said. “He’s the best leader I’ve ever been around. … One of my all-time favorites, probably my favorite, along with [wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr.].

“I spent the most time with him. … Me and Lavonte have a really good relationship, probably the best relationship I’ve had with a single player. Just because we went through [so much]”.

It took David, a second-round draft pick out of Nebraska and whose college career began at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas, nine seasons before he tasted the playoffs. It took seven from Evans, the seventh overall pick in 2014.

“It’s just an opportunity we have to take, man,” David told ESPN. “Keep taking opportunity after opportunity. We just have to be able to focus and take advantage of it.”

Last season, in the finale against the Panthers, Evans had a special moment – ​​eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards for the season on the final play to tie Rice. Now David can also have his moment in the regular season finale. David needs six tackles to tie first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer and mentor Derrick Brooks for the most tackles in franchise history (1,714).

“I would definitely be honored and blessed,” David said. “Obviously, being up there with DB is something I could never have dreamed of – how much he’s impacted football, the game of football, how he’s impacted the organization and how he’s impacted the community as well. … I’m grateful to be able to be mentioned in the same breath.”

David emphasized that the focus is on winning against Carolina this week and personal accolades come second. The same is true when it comes to retirement discussions. He has not yet decided if this will be his last season.

“I want to win football games now,” David said. “We still have an opportunity to make the playoffs, and I want to do that, for sure. I know it’s a record, an NFC South team winning the division five years in a row is a huge thing, so I want to get there.

“Obviously, from the beginning, my career started here and to be able to finish it or continue it like that, it would definitely be a great accomplishment. But I haven’t thought much about my future. The only future I think about is winning against Carolina and making the playoffs.”

David already owns franchise records for forced fumbles (33, Brooks is second with 25), fumble recoveries (20, Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Ronde Barber is second with 11) and tackles for a loss (177). David has 41.5 sacks, 32 forced fumbles and 14 interceptions in his career, with Hall of Famer Julius Peppers being the only other player since 2000 with at least 40 sacks, 30 forced fumbles and 10 interceptions.

Evans certainly wants to see his brother take the next step, just as much as he wants another playoff appearance.

“Obviously he’s extremely talented,” Evans said. “His habits, his love of the game, his passion, he should be in the Hall of Fame, that’s for sure. He’ll understand that [Bucs’ record]. He deserves it the most. The Bucs are known for their defense. As [my franchise record] It was a little easier. It was hard to do, but it was a little easier. The Bucs were not known for their offense or their receivers. Lavonte is pursuing Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks in the first round. And he does it.”

Returning to that scary moment in Week 7, David had a message for Evans and his team that simply shows the type of teammate he has been to the Tampa Bay franchise.

“It was really heartbreaking,” David told ESPN. “Just watching him grow up and be the man that he is, be the football player that he is — there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to be with him. … I know how excited he was to come back for this game. [after missing the three previous ones with a hamstring injury].

“I just try to be that for these guys. I always try to be that extra voice that they need to hear. I always try to be that extra force that they need. Whatever it takes for me, man, I just want them to know that I’m here.”