Todd Bowles: Bucs Did Not Lose Games Because Of Calijah Kancey’s Absence
February 25th, 2026
Don’t blame him, says Todd Bowles.
In September and October, it sure seemed the Bucs had dodged a brutal injury when Calijah Kancey tore a pec muscle in a win at Houston in Week 2.
He didn’t return until the final game of the season.
The Bucs had a 6-2 record without Kancey and appeared to be in the running for the No. 1 seed. And then the team collapsed and missed the playoffs, losing seven of their final nine games.
Yesterday, Bucs coach Todd Bowles was asked if Kancey’s injury eventually doomed the Bucs. Bowles sort of bristled at the suggestion, saying the Bucs did the losing all by themselves and Kancey being out was not a factor.
“That had no bearing on the games that we could have won,” Bowles said. “We could have used the energy and the talent [from Kancey], but there are going to be some injuries every year.
“We are not going to use that as excuses. We had guys out there that we had confidence in who could go out and play and help us win the ballgame.”
That is a nice defense of Kancey. Still, how much better would the defense have been with Kancey? How many ways did other players have to play out of their comfort zone (or skill zone) to compensate for Kancey’s absence?
You can’t tell Joe that Kancey not being on the field was not a factor.
“This Joe” is not going to hang the “bust” label on Kancey. A bust is a guy who is fully inept and is totally over his head on the NFL level. Think Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.
Kancey has talent. A lot of talent. But that talent means nothing if a dude is watching games in street clothes. Kancey has missed significant time in each of his three seasons in the NFL due to injuries. He’s got to find a way to stay on the field.
February 25th, 2026 at 12:09 am
Said the same thing about lb Dennis, he played fully healthy all year and was a flop straight highlights get beat this year and surrendering opening whistle tds
February 25th, 2026 at 12:13 am
The hits keep coming. He is breaking new ground. Bowzo Babble.
February 25th, 2026 at 12:46 am
We could have definitely gone 2-7 after the bye with or without Kancey. The scheme is so brilliant, it is irrelevant who is on the field. It’s the genius of the scheme and why Todd Bowles was retained.
February 25th, 2026 at 1:45 am
“You can’t tell Joe that Kancey not being on the field was not a factor.”
I will not be gaslighted either, Joe.
February 25th, 2026 at 2:05 am
Bowles and Kancey. Both busts.
February 25th, 2026 at 2:23 am
Bowles lousy coaching and terrible defensive system lost games, among other things. The Bucs punted on the 2026 season by having him back.
February 25th, 2026 at 2:25 am
Vea and Kancey are in the last year of their contracts.
We need a 3rd DT badly.
February 25th, 2026 at 4:06 am
The defense is a total mess. Having Kancy in the lineup would have helped, but there are so many other issues with the defense, I doubt it would have affected the Win- Loss record.
Think the Bucs should sign Cousins as the backup QB. Maybe he can help Bowles find all the holes in the defense. lol.
February 25th, 2026 at 4:22 am
Joe … ‘Kancey has talent. A lot of talent. But that talent means nothing if a dude is watching games in street clothes. Kancey has missed significant time each of his three seasons in the NFL due to injuries. He’s got to find a way to stay on the field.’
Nice summation Joe. But I doubt that Kancey went out there in certain games and said ‘Hey, I think I’ll get an injury today’. Nope, injuries happen.
Kancey’s problem IMO is that he’s a short lightweight (6’0″ & 280 lbs) trying to play a beast’s DT position against strong, talented OLinemen who are typically much taller & outweigh him by up to what, 50 lbs.
Calijah IMO has no business playing deep inside. Yes he’s got quickness & speed (4.67 sec in 40), but he’s not DT Aaron Donald (6’1″ & 283 lbs running 4.68 sec 40) who averaged 15.4 games/year for the Rams in his 10-year career (and oh ya, had 111 sacks, 260 QB hits, 176 TFLs & 543 tackles). Donald also averaged 847 def snaps/season, which is an incredible availability for a DT of any size. He was also one of a kind who made All-Pro every year but one.
Kancey has 11.5 sacks in 29 games played in 3 years. Meh. His availability is only 57% as he enters his contract year. Sorry, but availability like that doesn’t warrant a 5th year or a 2nd contract. This is a put-up or shut-up year for Calijah IMO. Bucs need to use him as a DE (further outside). And to do that, we NEED to add TWO beastly DTs to pair with Vea (1 draft; 1 UFA). No more midgets; we need monsters with an attitude. And no more BS of thinking that we’ll find our answers to the pass rush later in the draft or cheaply in FA. The beasts draft high & they aren’t cheap.
February 25th, 2026 at 5:08 am
Completely agree with Defense Rules. Bucs have to be aggressive and smart. They need to double up at DE/OLB, DT and ILB in FA and the draft. Given the cap and available FAs. Licht needs to spend wisely in FA and the quality of FA will drive the Bucs draft.
If the Bucs get a very good FA in one or more of the above 3 defensive positions, that position may become the #3 priority. This all assumes the Bucs are all in for 2025 and not just building for the future. IMO, the Bucs need to be open to trading back at #1 so they can trade up at #2 and #3. They also may have to give up a 2027 day 2 pick to get 3 very good players.
– If Styles is available at 15 do you take him or trade back for Howell or one of the top DTs and get an extra 2nd or 3rd round pick?
– Do you trade up to make your 2nd rd pick a high 2nd or even a late 1st rd pick (5th year)? This strategy worked well using an extra 2nd rd pick when you got both Brooks and Sapp in the 1st rd in the same draft.
– Do you trade up to make your 3rd rd pick a high 3rd or even a late 2nd rd pick?
– Do the Bucs believe they have too many holes and need the extra picks? Maybe to use on TE, G or CB in the 3rd?
– We know JL really values his picks but is he willing to trade a 2027 day 2 pick to help in the 2026 draft for someone they really want?
– Will Morrison develop at CB? Will Cancy stay healthy? Will the Bucs be able to keep ME13?
Who the Bucs re-sign among their FAs prior to the draft, which players they lose prior to the draft and who they sign as an FA will really help to determine which order the Bucs may potentially go. My take, as of today without knowing any of the above is
1 – Take Howell at 15 (or trade back NLT 18 (in front of Carolina) and get a 3rd rd pick.
2 – Use your extra 3rd rd pick to move up for a top DT
3 – Use your 3rd rd pick for an ILB (Rodriguez or other) as I think there is good ILB depth and after Reeves, Styles and Allen we may not see more than one ILB taken until the 3rd rd. Here’s where I would also consider using a 2027 pick to get the Baylor TE.
Like I said at the start all of this is subject to change based on FA.
February 25th, 2026 at 5:14 am
All in for 2026
Will Kancey stay healthy?
February 25th, 2026 at 5:31 am
Day 3 I like Keyshaun Elliot ASU ILB for a 2nd linebacker in the 4th rd.
5th and 6th rd picks go IOL who can play G or C, back up QB or RB depending on which you can get of these in FA.
7th rd pick should be CB depth as you never seem to have enough CBs
February 25th, 2026 at 7:23 am
Bucs Guy Says:
February 25th, 2026 at 5:08 am
Completely agree with Defense Rules. Bucs have to be aggressive and smart. They need to double up at DE/OLB, DT and ILB in FA and the draft. Given the cap and available FAs. Licht needs to spend wisely in FA and the quality of FA will drive the Bucs draft.
If the Bucs get a very good FA in one or more of the above 3 defensive positions, that position may become the #3 priority. This all assumes the Bucs are all in for 2025 and not just building for the future. IMO, the Bucs need to be open to trading back at #1 so they can trade up at #2 and #3. They also may have to give up a 2027 day 2 pick to get 3 very good players.
– If Styles is available at 15 do you take him or trade back for Howell or one of the top DTs and get an extra 2nd or 3rd round pick?
– Do you trade up to make your 2nd rd pick a high 2nd or even a late 1st rd pick (5th year)? This strategy worked well using an extra 2nd rd pick when you got both Brooks and Sapp in the 1st rd in the same draft.
– Do you trade up to make your 3rd rd pick a high 3rd or even a late 2nd rd pick?
– Do the Bucs believe they have too many holes and need the extra picks? Maybe to use on TE, G or CB in the 3rd?
– We know JL really values his picks but is he willing to trade a 2027 day 2 pick to help in the 2026 draft for someone they really want?
– Will Morrison develop at CB? Will Cancy stay healthy? Will the Bucs be able to keep ME13?
Who the Bucs re-sign among their FAs prior to the draft, which players they lose prior to the draft and who they sign as an FA will really help to determine which order the Bucs may potentially go. My take, as of today without knowing any of the above is
1 – Take Howell at 15 (or trade back NLT 18 (in front of Carolina) and get a 3rd rd pick.
2 – Use your extra 3rd rd pick to move up for a top DT
3 – Use your 3rd rd pick for an ILB (Rodriguez or other) as I think there is good ILB depth and after Reeves, Styles and Allen we may not see more than one ILB taken until the 3rd rd. Here’s where I would also consider using a 2027 pick to get the Baylor TE.
Like I said at the start all of this is subject to change based on FA.
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All of this is fine and well IF our coaching staff has the ability to develop a drafted player to play at an NFL level. I can honestly say I have YET to see it happen. I have zero faith in our current coaching staff to do this. Tell me I am wrong?
February 25th, 2026 at 7:30 am
this is why we need to re-sign logan hall…CK94 cant stay healthy…and logan hall is very dependable and serviceable
CK94 needs to play DE on 1st & 2nd down and slide him inside on 3rd down…
e.roberts and vita played well together imo…
draft DT day2(CALEB BANKS-UF/DT), sign Oweh, resign YaYa and let CK94 and YD0 rotate on the outside
GO BUCS!!!!
February 25th, 2026 at 7:34 am
Buster Kancey is too small for the position and that is why he keeps getting hurt. Simple as that. Either move him or make him part time. I’m happy to be wrong, but I don’t think he will ever play every game in a season.
February 25th, 2026 at 8:16 am
The Bucs will likely sign Greg Gaines for depth because he will be cheap.
If the Bucs sign Hall to a FA contract, they will have to sign Gaines because he’s cheap-
So the DLine will be back to square one- same old no pass rush.
Hall is one dimensional – decent on the run, no pass rush impact.
There are FA’s available that are upgrades from Hall.
February 25th, 2026 at 8:30 am
Trying to picture a dude same size as me who weighs 120 pounds more
February 25th, 2026 at 8:52 am
Whether they aren’t on the field because of ineptitude or due to being injured often, the results are the same. The team has to compensate for the problem. I wanted to Love Mr. Kancey and if he isn’t a “BUST” he definitely isn’t a “starter” either. He should be a rotational player and paid accordingly.
February 25th, 2026 at 8:54 am
DR hit it right on the nose, we need two beasts at DT. He has been banging that drum for a while and I totally agree. These national pundits who have the Bucs drafting a TE in the first are clueless, A TE at this point in the draft would be a luxury. There is only one football to go around. ( I hate mock drafts!!) Need to build the DL first and upmost.
February 25th, 2026 at 10:28 am
Hey Joe, on another note, how can anyone look at the TE from Vanderbilt and really truly, what good college teams do they play and what was the outcome? I am pretty skeptical on this. He’s probably really good but cornerbacks in the NFL are even better if not the LB. I’m sorry for this but that’s how I feel..
February 25th, 2026 at 2:11 pm
Hell, I’d be testy to, If I was Coach Bowles.
How many top picks can we possibly waste with bust on the defensive line.
Noah Spence was a body builder. JTS was a delicate, weak flower. Hall tries, but too slow to rush, too weak to play tackle. Kancey is a midget- who is too small to be an NFL linemen.
Then we sign a career pothead, and a professional malcontent. Massive fails. Just massive and embarrassing.
That is an entire Defensive unit. With all those top picks, the Bucs should have a great young line.
Nope. All failures.
I like Elijah Roberts. I like reading about how great YaYa Diaby is. Unfortunately, all he has is hype, with a sprinkle of Talent.
We have Vita Vea. We have one solid backup in Anthony Nelson. The rest are just a waste of roster spots.
That’s how you cripple a team, that should have been a Contender.
We’ll need a few years to be relevant again
February 25th, 2026 at 5:58 pm
I guess what wasn’t OK for Dean is fine for Kancey. I didn’t see them reducing his pay. Ridiculous to think he would hold up as a DT. He’s a bust because the brain trust used him improperly and he goes into the pile of other tweener busts JL is so fond of.
We will not see any of the rebuilding scenarios if and until you see a number of restructured contracts. I see no urgency or mention of this so far. If I had to guess I’d say we’re looking at draft relief only by these cowards. They will only do half measures to maintain the status quo.
Too scared or too stupid to take the bold steps needed to correct the previous mistakes. Case in point – retaining Bowles.