Calijah

Kancey

Cancey is now under contract for the Bucs through the 2027 season. The fourth-year tackle has totaled 11.5 sacks in 29 career games with the Buccaneers, but appeared in just three games last season after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in Week 2 against the Texans. Cancey has generated 81 pressures in his career, per PFF, and earned a 64.5 pass rush grade in 2024.

You don’t often see torn pectoral injuries suffered by defensive players recover enough to play in the same season they were hurt, but occasionally someone will do it. Kancey will probably be of limited effectiveness against the Panthers, but the Buccaneers are pulling out all the stops they can to keep their season alive in Week 18.

Kancey will have a chance to return for Week 18 against the Panthers or possibly for the postseason if the Bucs qualify for the playoffs. The former first round draft pick has been sidelined since September with the pectoral injury. He would be a welcome addition to a Tampa defense that has struggled mightily for much of the past month.

Kancey suffered a torn pec in Week 2 and was ruled out for the season later in the week. This update gives Bucs fans a sliver of hope that the injury isn’t as bad as initially believed, but it’s still unlikely we see the former first-round pick suit up again this season. Tampa Bay signed defensive tackle Elijah Simmons earlier this week, giving them some extra depth in the wake of Kancey’s injury.

Simmons will serve as interior defensive line depth with DT Calijah Kancey landing on injured reserve with a season-ending pectoral tear. Simmons, a 2025 undrafted free agent, spent the first two weeks of the season on the Cardinals’ practice squad.

Kancey sustained the injury on Monday night against the Texans. He’ll undergo surgery and miss the rest of the season. Kancey has 11.5 sacks over the past two seasons and has been a critical piece of Tampa’s stifling rush defense. The Bucs could be a little more vulnerable to opposing rushers with Kancey sidelined.

Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot) will be a game-time call but is trending toward playing. Kancey has yet to play this year after suffering a hamstring injury before Week 1. The 2023 first-round pick totaled four sacks and 10 TFLs as a rookie.

DL Calijah Kancey (calf) also returned to practice, getting in a full participation. Winfield has been sidelined since Week 1 with a foot injury and has a chance to return Week 6 after getting in a limited practice Wednesday. Safety Jordan Whitehead (groin) was also limited while DB Christian Izien (elbow/groin) did not practice.

The talented inside-outside pass rusher will miss another game after failing to practice all week. The Buccaneers will hope to get him back for their Week 6 divisional showdown against the Saints.

Vea had a shot at suiting up last week, but the Bucs ultimately held him out on Sunday. He was limited in all three practices this week and looks to be on the right side of the questionable tag heading into the weekend. Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. both remain out for Week 4.