Puzzle could be more savage (8)
I believe the answer is:
bewilder
'puzzle' is the definition.
(I know that puzzle can be written as bewilder)
'be more savage' is the wordplay.
'more savage' becomes 'wilder' ('wild' can be a synonym of 'savage').
'be'+'wilder'='BEWILDER'
'could' is the link.
(Other definitions for bewilder that I've seen before include "Confuse totally" , "Confuse utterly" , "Perplex the wild beer" , "fox" , "Wild beer tending to confuse" .)