Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Lavonte David (54) Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Buccaneers activate LB Lavonte David, but leave RB Leonard Fournette on IR

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have linebacker Lavonte David back in action for the first time since Week 15 after he was activated from the team's injured reserve ahead of a playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles. 

While the team announced the return of David and running back Giovani Bernard from the injured reserve Saturday, it's the move they didn't make that's even more noteworthy. Running back Leonard Fournette was not activated and will be out of action Sunday.

Fournette, 26, landed on Tampa Bay's injured reserve when he suffered a hamstring injury in the team's Week 15 loss to the New Orleans Saints. He finished the regular season with 1,266 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdowns.

David, 31, is in his 10th season with the Buccaneers and is unquestionably the leader of the team's defense. He's in his eighth season as a team captain and is the franchise's all-time leader in forced fumbles and tackles for loss.

The absence of Fournette could be offset a bit by the return of Bernard, but it'll likely be Ronald Jones who starts and gets the bulk of the workload.

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