Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles confirmed that outside linebacker David Walker will see an increased role on defense moving forward, pointing to the production Walker has shown in limited snaps through the first three weeks of the season.
Asked directly whether Walker would receive more playing time, Bowles did not hesitate. 'Definitely,' Bowles said. 'He's earned them.'
Walker, who missed his entire rookie season after tearing his ACL, has quietly become a bright spot for a Tampa Bay pass rush that has produced just six sacks through three games. He did not play a defensive snap in the season opener, then logged nine snaps in Week 2 and 19 in Week 3. Despite that limited workload, Walker has recorded a sack in each of the last two games, giving him two of the team's six total sacks this season.
His emergence comes at a time when the Buccaneers' front seven has not produced the impact many expected after an offseason that included multiple high-profile additions. Rookie Rueben Bain Jr., in particular, has struggled to make his presence felt through two games before sitting out Week 3 with an injury.
With Tampa Bay sitting at 0-3 and preparing to host the Green Bay Packers in Week 4, the pass rush figures to be a focal point as the Buccaneers look for any spark on either side of the ball. Quarterback Baker Mayfield remains out with a dislocated thumb, placing additional pressure on the defense to keep games manageable.
Bowles did not specify how many snaps Walker will play going forward, but his comments make clear that the second-year linebacker's role is expected to grow as Tampa Bay searches for answers up front.