David Walker spent the first week of the season waiting for more opportunities. Three games into the year, Todd Bowles is now acknowledging that Walker has made it impossible to keep him off the field. “He’s earned more snaps,” Bowles said Wednesday. “He’s playing well. He’s playing hard. He’s playing fast. He’s making plays, so he’ll get more snaps.”
Walker did not receive a defensive snap against Cincinnati, then played only nine against Cleveland. It took him just six pass rush opportunities to record his first NFL sack, beating his blocker with a rip move before bringing Deshaun Watson down for an eight-yard loss on third down. He also finished with a quarterback hit and a tackle for loss. The Bucs responded by increasing his workload against Minnesota,
and Walker produced again. He recorded three tackles, two tackles for loss, and his second sack in as many games. Through three weeks, Walker has two sacks despite playing only 28 defensive snaps.
That production matters for a defense that desperately needs edge rushers capable of winning without Bowles manufacturing pressure. Tampa Bay finished 2025 with only 37 sacks while blitzing on 35 percent of its pass rush snaps, the third-highest rate in football. The entire offseason was built around finding players who could help the Bucs generate pressure with four. Walkers' explosiveness was obvious throughout training camp and the preseason, but what he has done in actual games matters more. Walker has shown burst off the snap, natural leverage, and enough power in his hands to challenge tackles in different ways. Outside linebackers coach Larry Foote specifically praised his explosiveness, quickness, ability to bend the corner, and natural feel as a pass rusher. Walker has produced every time Tampa Bay has increased his workload. Bowles now appears ready to reward him for it.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Todd Bowles says Bucs pass rusher David Walker earned more snaps
