Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to fix a minor meniscus tear on Sunday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Rapoport noted, via David's agent Ron Butler, that the surgery was a trim and the linebacker will be available by the start of the regular season.
Via 95.3 WDAE's Len Martez, Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said on the surgery;
Lavonte had a little knee procedure. We are going to hold him out for a little while. Nothing serious, just a little meniscus tear; fixed it up yesterday, so he'll be good and ready to go soon.
Though a minor meniscus repair can hold David out from between 4 to 6 weeks, all indications are that he'll be back sooner. Tampa Bay's first regular-season game is on September 8th, versus the San Francisco 49ers.
In 2018, David suffered a right knee MCL sprain that caused him to sit out two games. Before then, he had not suffered a knee injury. ESPN's Jenna Laine notes that the Buccaneers will hold him out of the first pre-season game. But, considering his veteran experience (seven seasons) and need to rest his knee, expect him to be out for a bit longer.
David is a key-cog in the Buccaneers defense, and is the veteran expected to keep the linebacker corps afloat following Kwon Alexander's free agency departure.
With Deone Buchannon and No. 5 overall pick Devin White on-board, the 2013 first-team All-Pro will have a responsibility to help get everyone up to speed on the playing field.
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