Lavonte David carted off with ankle injury

Update: Head coach Dirk Koetter said after the game that “x-rays were negative” on David. What that means for David’s prognosis and recovery isn’t really clear.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are being decimated by injury today. Lavonte David is the latest victim of a massive string of injuries, as he had to be carted off the field with an ankle injury.

The Bucs started the game against the Minnesota Vikings without linebacker Kwon Alexander, cornerback Brent Grimes, defensive tackle Chris Baker and defensive end Jacquies Smith. Almost every other defensive starter had to leave the game at one point due to injury, though most of them at least returned to play.

David’s injury looks like the most serious one, as he was writhing in pain after getting his ankle rolled up. With Alexander out with a hamstring injury, the Bucs’ significant depth at linebacker is being seriously tested. Kendell Beckwith is proving to be a solid replacement middle linebacker, but they have no good replacement for David—and losing the speed of both Alexander and David would be an almost insurmountable blow to an already struggling defense.