Former NFL Team Doctor Thinks Calijah Kancey Needs Surgery
September 15th, 2025
Former NFL doctor weighs in.
UPDATED 12:12 a.m. – Now Joe has to preface what this physician has to say about Bucs tackle Calijah Kancey.
The man making this educated, though fully unofficial guess has no direct information on Kancey. He has no X-rays, no test results, no MRI data, has not interviewed Kancey or evaluated him. This man is just going by what he saw on TV.
The Bucs’ third-year defensive tackle and beastly pass rusher left the game with Houston tonight with what was determined to be a pec injury. No further details were provided.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles stated on the Buccaneers Radio Network after the game that he didn’t want to speak on Kancey’s injury (or Luke Goedeke’s injured foot) because the Bucs were going to have Kancey undergo tests. But Dr. David Chao, the former 17-year lead physician of the San Diego Chargers, thinks Kancey is going to be out a while because his eyeball diagnosis is that Kancey will need surgery.
Chao believes if Kancey does undergo the knife, he will be out until at least December. Either way, if Kancey has surgery, he would miss months, Chao said.
Calijah Kancey Bucs
Tears pec on this play
Not the next/final one shown on TV
Surgery & small chance for late or playoff return if TB alive pic.twitter.com/YRILh6x3UT— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) September 16, 2025
September 15th, 2025 at 11:45 pm
Some players are just prone to
Injury, Kancey definitely falls in this category. Hasn’t played an injury free season yet. He’s definitely fragile.
September 15th, 2025 at 11:47 pm
I gave you that GMac nod in an X response. You’re welcome.
September 15th, 2025 at 11:48 pm
Too bad he was having a great game up to that point
September 15th, 2025 at 11:52 pm
Think Chao has been wrong before. Hope surgery is not required.
September 15th, 2025 at 11:55 pm
That didnt even look like he hurt himself
September 16th, 2025 at 12:10 am
It was clear he hurt himself.
September 16th, 2025 at 12:11 am
If he is out until December I am still thinking we are winning the division and we have him for the playoffs. Given what other teams are dealing with, it could be worse.
September 16th, 2025 at 12:27 am
That was the wrong play
September 16th, 2025 at 12:45 am
Vea looks ineffective Kancey was being stonewalled through two weeks with zero pass rush nailed it in preseason and what’s worse Licht was banking on a rookie 4th rounder
September 16th, 2025 at 1:20 am
The doc is saying that this play, just before the next play where Kalijah left injured, is what actually injured his pec
September 16th, 2025 at 1:29 am
The shot I saw of it ,it was just flopping like a chicken wing!
Definitely not good😭
September 16th, 2025 at 3:50 am
Of course. I’d been waiting for it. It was only a matter of time. But, here we are. We are at the point where they will have to really think looong and HARD whether or not they are going to pick-up his 5th-year option at the end of the season. I mean, if he’s OUT AGAIN, and for THAT LONG… Then, that is exactly where we are now, with him. 💯
September 16th, 2025 at 4:01 am
Mr. Antoine Winfield Junior has gotta STEP-UP. He was mostly invisible tonight, and was looked lost and slow to react (making it look like he took a terrible angle) on the Chubbs TD-run. And, I think I only heard his name called JUST ONCE, all night.
September 16th, 2025 at 4:15 am
Welp, DT and ILB next up for the draft….im on it
September 16th, 2025 at 4:16 am
Hit them both twice!
September 16th, 2025 at 4:20 am
Btw, good luck recovering Kancey, we need you man…(wasnt trying to ignore, sorry)
September 16th, 2025 at 4:34 am
Great player, but always hurt
September 16th, 2025 at 5:52 am
Looked to me Gaines was getting more push , I believe he did get a sack as well
September 16th, 2025 at 6:05 am
What does this video show?