NFL Network: Calijah Kancey “Ahead Of Schedule”
November 23rd, 2025
Regular season return on the table?
Most Bucs fans, just like Joe, are laser-focused on the health progress of Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan.
Lost in the shuffle is a guy Joe thought would have a breakout year, defensive tackle Calijah Kancey. Well, we have an update from Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. And he had a pleasant surprise.
Garafolo said of Kancey’s rehab, “I’m told he is ahead of schedule and could be back at the end of the season.”
Remember, the final game of the regular season is the weekend of Jan. 3-4.
Initially, the Bucs thought there may be a snowball’s chance of Kancey returning for the playoffs. That was when it appeared a cinch the Bucs would win the division. Now? The way the Bucs have played since the bye, Joe’s holding his breath. My, how things have changed.
In recent weeks, Joe has heard whispers that Kancey may return in December. Yes, that could mean Dec. 31. But December is December and if he came back at the end of December, that means at least he’d play in a regular-season game.
A loyal reader sent Joe the tweet below, excited to hear Garafolo offer an update on Evans. But for Joe it was just too vague. “… [C]ould come back in a couple of weeks.”
Well, Joe “could” win the Powerball. And “in a couple of weeks,” it will be December and that’s when the Bucs hoped Evans would be back, in December, so that one is too much of a guesstimate from Garafolo to get Joe’s heartbeat skipping.
The Insiders on @NFLGameDay Morning with @TomPelissero and @MikeGarafolo: The latest on Brian Thomas Jr and Drake London; #Bucs should get WR Chris Godwin back tonight and reinforcements are coming; The #Cowboys want to bring George Pickens back for 2026 and beyond. pic.twitter.com/skRaGBfGCK
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 23, 2025
November 23rd, 2025 at 2:32 pm
The silver lining to all these injuries is that none of them except mauch seems to be season ending out for the year type injuries . Mike,Godwin, McMillan and possibly kancey coming back makes this team dangerous as hell down the stretch.
November 23rd, 2025 at 2:35 pm
lol. So he will be 50% healthy by playoffs. If the Bucs make it.
Bucs have been lying to their fans about injuries all year
November 23rd, 2025 at 2:42 pm
Lotta cya goin on
November 23rd, 2025 at 2:47 pm
Can’t believe people think they’re owed injury info more than the nfl requires.
November 23rd, 2025 at 2:49 pm
The brittle Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
November 23rd, 2025 at 2:52 pm
If the winner of the Super Bowl is ‘The Cream of the Crop’, is the winner of the NFC South ‘The Cream of the Crap’?
November 23rd, 2025 at 2:53 pm
Are we still talking about Kancey? Why? Nothing but hype.
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:02 pm
Well that would be nice. I’m pulling for this guy.
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:05 pm
We could get some players back before the last game with Panthers…..may be important…..who knows?
But…with our luck, others will go down in the interim.
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:15 pm
Hey look it is one of the guys that some people thought would be really good but can’t really tell since he’s so rarely on the field just might make it back at the end of the season.!!!
WoooHooo.!!!
Bucs fans livin’ the dream.
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:16 pm
At this point, I don’t even know if we make the playoffs this year.
We really need to start playing better in all 3 phases or we won’t win 4 more games this year (which I think would be the minimum we need to win in order to make the playoffs).
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:25 pm
The bears are about too be 8-3 remember when we were 5-1 on top of the world 🫠
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:26 pm
Make them active only if they are 100% and can go full speed. Otherwise let them stay on the sideline.
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:27 pm
It’s all coming together……
3-1, then 6-5 with the third game of a three game losing streak being to the Rams on November 23rd……
And here is our injured D Lineman coming back at the end of the year.
2020 all over again.
Boat Parade!
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Godwin could make the big play tonight. Game winner. Bucky back next week with maybe Breda and Reddick. We getting ready to go on a roll. Major news roll. Win out and 13 wins gets us the 1 seed. Bowles coach of the year. Egbuka rookie of the year. Baker Super Bowl MVP. And it all starts tonight.
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Bredeson
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:31 pm
And Dean and Kancey
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:31 pm
Jamies just caught a TD pass for the giants , maybe we coulda used him with all the injuries we have
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:32 pm
That would be huge.
Also read McMillian got his neck brace off and they could open his 21-day return window here very soon.
Plus we should start to hear something about Evans here in the next couple of weeks – from what I read it was a clean break, meaning his return window should be on the shorter end if things go well.
Man, give me Bucky, Godwin, Evans, McMillian, Kancey… wow, thats as big of an upgrade as any team is going to get going into the playoffs. Have to make the playoffs though.
Now how about rumors that Cody is ahead of schedule. Technically his return window would be the 1st week of February – if they’re still playing then, man.
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:32 pm
If Kancey makes it back for the last game this season that means he’d have played in 3 games this season, 12 games in 2024 and 14 games in 2023 … a total of 29 games out of 51 regular season games. Wow, he was available for almost 57% of our games. Huge help right there.
Maybe all JBFers should get together and rent a billboard next to RayJay that says … ‘Just a thought Jason, but let’s draft players who actually play’.
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:35 pm
This is great news!
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:38 pm
There he is… Jameis be Jameisin’
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:39 pm
Who is Cody?
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:44 pm
Mauch. Got it
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:45 pm
Modhairken be careful pulling for the guy, you might give him a groin injury.
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:50 pm
Just in time to re injure and start the healing cycle over again
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:51 pm
Hopefully one of you guys can explain it to me.
With the track record that Bowles has done here – and in his HC career – what makes you believe that this team will do anything in the playoffs, if they get there?
I see a mediocre team with a bad defense that struggle to beat lesser teams and get run vs. good teams
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:57 pm
I understand the excitement of us fans to get our “stars” back in time for the playoffs. Of course we want our best players back.
BUT…
When they come back, are they gonna be in game shape, or will it take them several games to get back to their playmaking ways?
Just getting a few players back actually isn’t a sure thing that the team will start playing better, which is something to monitor going forward.
I do hope I’m wrong, but it doesn’t seem reasonable to expect too much from some players who by then will have missed most or all of an entire season.
November 23rd, 2025 at 4:02 pm
Brotha, it really could be soooooo much worse than having Bowles as a coach and at least making it to the playoffs.
Personally, I’m not ready to go down that path……again….
Any given Sunday…..
November 23rd, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Jmarkbuc Says:
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:38 pm
There he is… Jameis be Jameisin’
———-
You mean single handedly keeping his team in the game only to have a massive defensive collapse.
November 23rd, 2025 at 4:44 pm
I’d be more worried about those guys being able to take punishment than anything else. Being out means fresh legs at the end of the season. Game shape matters too but they rotate out anyways. I would like to see Kancy moved out from inside the line, he could really be something cause I don’t know if he can take the inside pounding, maybe just his start to the NFL.
November 23rd, 2025 at 4:50 pm
D-Rok Says:
When they come back, are they gonna be in game shape, or will it take them several games to get back to their playmaking ways?
————
That’s why you want them back before the playoffs – so hopefully they’re full speed by the time the playoffs get here.
I think the team is good enough to make the playoffs even if they’re not at full speed, but also look at the injuries.
Bucky – he should be a full go, plus RBs really don’t need ramp up time.
Godwin – likely will need a few weeks to get up to full speed, but should be good before the playoffs get here.
Evans – his injury seemingly is one of the easier ones to come back from, in terms of ‘severe’ injuries and guys when they come back seem to play with no limitations. He can still work out his bottom half while injured, so he shouldn’t need much time – maybe only a week or two, if that.
McMillan – no idea since the team has lied about his injury and time table. But even with a bad neck, I assume he could still exercise and run (use machines at least). I think he will certainly take a bit to get back to full speed, but he’s going to be a depth WR, so question is if he’s 80% is he better than say Ryan Miller, and the answer is absolutely.
Kancey – this one is a tough one since I don’t think he can lift while injured, and I’m not sure when he can start lifting. Even if he’s back before the end of the year, I doubt he’d be full speed even for the payoffs. But again, is 80% of Kancey better than, say, Logan Hall? Yes, without a question.
November 23rd, 2025 at 4:54 pm
He could be back. Only to get hurt again or stiff armed out of the plays.
November 23rd, 2025 at 4:57 pm
It won’t make much difference to either the regular season or the one playoff lost.
November 23rd, 2025 at 4:58 pm
Todd needs to make sure he can cover the slot receivers so It won’t make much difference to either the regular season or the one playoff lost.
November 23rd, 2025 at 5:20 pm
Fans get dismissed because we don’t have the knowledge Jason Licht does but I want the only one complaining about how weak the trenches were this offseason. We lost Kancey one guy and look at the talent level is Vera goes to the bench. Only one name missing on defense so he won’t help all this much, Bowles is too stubborn to change which makes him a horrible coach.
November 23rd, 2025 at 5:35 pm
So what if Kancy does return he will probably blow out a calf when he does.
The only player who might help is Evans and since he doesn’t rush the passer he’s not a game changer.
As for Godwin he’s finished.
Same with McMillan who has a broken neck for gods sake.
November 23rd, 2025 at 5:40 pm
drdneast – Do me a favor and drunk drive into a bridge embankment, you won’t be missed.
November 23rd, 2025 at 6:41 pm
Im done with this guy.
November 23rd, 2025 at 6:51 pm
That’s just it. How long before they get in game shape?
November 23rd, 2025 at 6:52 pm
IF WE PLAY TODDS SOFT ZONE TONIGHT .WERE DEAD !! THAT IS ALL . ! 😁
November 23rd, 2025 at 7:07 pm
That’d be cool.
But what’s up at Edge.
JTS then Diaby then Braswell then hurt Reddick and Walker
Major issues at OLB
November 23rd, 2025 at 8:00 pm
Simeon4HOF, it does not matter at edge as Bowles always has them dropping back in coverage anyhow. Dude is stubborn to a tee and will never change. He’d probably resign before changing or giving up his defensive play calling.
November 23rd, 2025 at 8:42 pm
Pathetic
November 23rd, 2025 at 9:53 pm
It’s articles a joke. Two injury prone and mental head cases