The Impact Of A Healthy Calijah Kancey
May 31st, 2026
Need to keep Calijah Kancey out of street clothes and in a Bucs uniform.
There were too many ways to count how the Bucs’ front-seven was so rotten last year.
People used to rag on Jamel Dean for missing playing time. But goodness gracious, Dean was an iron horse compared to defensive tackle Calijah Kancey.
Since being drafted in 2023, Kancey has played in 26 of 51 regular-season games (56 percent). That’s not good by any standard.
The sad thing is, when Kancey is healthy and after he gets a couple of games under his belt, the guy is a force, especially going after quarterbacks. But as the old saying goes, you can’t help the club when you’re in the tub.
Joe does know this malady of not staying healthy really bothers Kancey. So it’s not like he’s Myron Lewis and looking to get hurt to still cash Team Glazer checks without earning them.
The Bucs made a big effort to beef up the front-seven this offseason. At underwear football practice Tuesday, Bowles was asked what sort of an impact Kancey could make.
“He can be huge for us if he stays healthy,” Bowles said. “Obviously, he’s very fast and quick and gives us an element we don’t have with the size of Vita [Vea] and A’Shawn [Robinson] and those guys.
“Kancey gives us an interior pass rush presence. We just got to keep him healthy.”
Kancey gave folks a glimpse of what he can do in 2024 with 7.5 sacks in 12.5 games. Coming from an interior guy, that’s damn good.
Joe is starting to wonder if putting Kancey in a rotation might extend his shelf life. No, you really don’t want a first-round pick in a rotation. But dang it, the Bucs need Kancey to stay healthy.
Perhaps limiting his snaps will also limit his chances of getting hurt. Having Kancey on the field for half a game each week is better than not having Kancey for several games in a row?
May 31st, 2026 at 12:13 am
Can’t help the club when your in the tub…and 7.5 sacks in 12.5 games…thank me later
May 31st, 2026 at 12:35 am
we all hope the guy can play all season. but only about 10-20% of active starters play every game in a season in the NFL. it’s tough.
that said we got some dogs across the line and depth this year so I feel better about the rotation when someone gets banged up and has to sit out a game.
I think after the last few seasons being rocked by injury we’re due for a season where we don’t have multiple starters with season ending injuries.
May 31st, 2026 at 1:12 am
I agree with Joe’s take on this. If a close game is on the line, leave him in and let him tear it up. If you have a nice lead late and a game is in hand, use him sparingly, if at all. Good stuff Joe.
May 31st, 2026 at 2:19 am
LyncMob …..would say he sucks if he can’t stay on the field.
May 31st, 2026 at 2:42 am
The Mountaineer in my blood wants to believe it’s the Pitt in Kancey. Wash out the Pitt to fix him ? Sirvocea Dennis, Pitt.
Before them, Jordan Whitehead was a virtual warrior comparatively. In his five seasons as a Buc, he played in every game only one time. 2020. So, get the Pitt out of a dude, get a Bucs Super Bowl? Maybe. The Jets got two full seasons out of Jordan before he returned to Tampa and then we had to try washing out the Pitt and the Jet. It proved to be too much.
May 31st, 2026 at 3:00 am
Kentucky has really enjoyed their time in Morgantown, this weekend. Went over to take care of business.
May 31st, 2026 at 3:07 am
The Bucs may not want their first round draft choice to be in a rotation but it sure beats having him in that tub.
Plus IIRC his rating against the run has been substandard while his forte is rushing the passer. With a stable of big bodies on hand it looks natural to make him a 2/3rd down specialist.
BTW we don’t want or need Bain to come inside. That’s what beef is for. Let him do his thing and use the rest of the roster to show off their strengths and abilities.
This roster is built for purpose. Make Kancey shine with speed and suddenness. Let the 310+ pounders pound. Create a rotation, pick the spots, then let the dawgs hunt.
May 31st, 2026 at 6:15 am
A pass rush is a pass rush, it doesn’t have to come from the edge. Vita and A’Shawn aren’t pass rushers. IF IF Kancey can stay healthy, the Bucs could put Bain, AQM, and Kancey on the field to get sacks.
May 31st, 2026 at 6:33 am
@Bucsalltheway
I’m not picking up what you’re putting down. Normally I wouldn’t bother to ask but since you rushed in there first with your comment…
What are you saying? Thank you for???????
What exactly have you done?
May 31st, 2026 at 6:36 am
The dude is paper-mache. Sissy azz diva. “Calf strain” …. please. He can’t play 3 games in a row.
May 31st, 2026 at 6:43 am
‘Joe is starting to wonder if putting Kancey in a rotation might extend his shelf life. Bucs need Kancey to stay healthy. Perhaps limiting his snaps will also limit his chances of getting hurt.’
What’s wrong with using any player in a rotational role? To me it’s more about keeping the DLine beasts fresh than it is about not etting them hurt (could get hurt if he only had 1 def snap).
For the 1st time since 2021, the Bucs SHOULD have a beastly DLine … Vea, RNR & Capehart capable of playing NT/DT, and Robinson, Kancey & Roberts capable of playing DT/DE. The PREFERRED combo IMO would be Vea (NT), Robinson (DT) & Kancey (DE). Add Diaby & Bain in there as the 2 (attacking) OLBs and you SHOULD have a significant pass rush. (I admittedly like rushing 4-5 with less blitzing than what Todd seems to prefer, but that takes ‘beasts’ upfront to pull off consistently).
May 31st, 2026 at 7:11 am
JimBobBuc … ‘Vita and A’Shawn aren’t pass rushers’.
Wow JimBob, that’s harsh. You’re talking over 650 lbs of beef and it can’t pass rush? Our problem since Suh left has been that opponents really only had to account for Vea (double teams?) to control the DLine. The rest were just average players, or players who couldn’t stay out of the tub (Kancey).
This season we’ve finally got beasts. Last year:
o Vea (6’4″ & 347 lbs): 17 games – 763 snaps – 4.5 sacks – 13 QB Hits – 7 TFL – 34 tackles (16 solo).
o Robinson (6’3″ & 320 lbs): 17 games – 657 snaps – 2.5 sacks – 8 QB Hits – 3 TFL – 65 tackles (21 solo).
o Kancey (6′ & 280 lbs): 3 games – 97 snaps – 0 sacks – 1 QB Hits – 1 TFL – 1 tackle (1 solo).
o RNR (6’2″ & 305 lbs): 9 games – 241 snaps – 3 sacks – 4 QB Hits – 3 TFL – 23 tackles (6 solo).
o Roberts (6’4″ & 295 lbs): 17 games – 507 snaps – 2 sacks – 5 QB Hits – 2 TFL – 14 tackles (10 solo).
o Capehart (6’5″ & 315 lbs): Rookie
Those first 5 DLinemen got 12 sacks among them last season, and that’s with Kancey & RNR only getting 12 games between them. Bowles now has the capability to keep guys ‘fresh’ and I’m convinced that’ll do a lot in itself to improve our interior pass rush. IF we can do that successfully, that SHOULD help our OLBs quite a bit.
May 31st, 2026 at 7:29 am
Kancey still needs to be in NFL football shape, Walker (still a rook) also….so i dont know. Im putting my faith in Bain and Yaya and the new rook Capeheart….they’ve been playing and ready.
May 31st, 2026 at 7:31 am
And still got faith in Elijay….who i pushed for in that draft….forgot to mention, sorry
May 31st, 2026 at 7:33 am
Elijah Roberts…..stupid fingers on phone.
May 31st, 2026 at 7:54 am
Hmmmm..
The impact of a injured Calijah Kancey is more like it
May 31st, 2026 at 8:51 am
Madmax…
Isn’t Elijay a town in North Georgia? Very nice there.
That was a Freudian typo, knowing it’s probably in the ’60s up there and not
80+ humidity… starting to slide into those months for Florida is less attractive.
(Don’t get me wrong, my family’s been in Tampa Bay for seven generations so I still love it here).
The albatross around my neck is voice recognition. LOL
If Dean can miss 30 to 40% of games almost every season and suddenly last season he puts in a pretty healthy year, then I think Kancey can do it. This is his year!
May 31st, 2026 at 8:57 am
Kancey doesn’t seem to have the frame to be an interior lineman, just not stout enough. Rotating him may keep him fresh during games and late into the season, but his injuries have never come from being over worked.
May 31st, 2026 at 9:06 am
So, just how many guys can we afford to put on a rotation to extend their shelf life?
May 31st, 2026 at 9:12 am
If Kancey can stay healthy. He won’t.
If the OL can stay healthy. They won’t.
If the new guys can knock the boredom out of Zyon. He will still be out of position.
If the LBs can cover. The new guy is a fossil. On last contract.
If the Defense can tackle. Can’t do what you don’t practice.
If Baker stays healthy. He is not now nor will he ever be a pure pocket passer. Unlikely.
If Godwin stays healthy.
If Bucky stays healthy. Guy has a meltdown because his shoulder hurt.
If this, if that.
The hopes and lies begin.
May 31st, 2026 at 9:34 am
Kancey is the biggest X factor this season imo. If he can stay healthy this line becomes pretty scary. All u need to do is go back and watch the playoff game against Washington, he was making plays all night in the backfield. Yes he missed the most important tackle of the game on daniels to seal the game on 4th down but he deserves credit for getting into the backfield and having the shot at him.
May 31st, 2026 at 9:44 am
Oh brother!!!
I have another title for this post:
“If a frog had wings it wouldn’t bump it’s bum on the ground”
Come on man!
This dude has a lot to prove in 2026.
I have Kancey fatigue at the moment.
May 31st, 2026 at 9:47 am
Soooooo,
Calijah Kancey is too small to play D Line in the The NFL, and has been hurt most of his career.
Who knew?
Yeah. As Stated the week we drafted him. Prophecy fulfilled.
Another large waste of draft capital.
May 31st, 2026 at 10:09 am
When healthy (as if) Buster Kancey makes one or two plays a game then disappears for long stretches. I hope he’s better this year but I’m not expecting it.
May 31st, 2026 at 10:39 am
I see the all the offseason kooks have gathered in this comment section. LOL
May 31st, 2026 at 10:58 am
I do not think Clancey being healthy during the off-season is the problem
May 31st, 2026 at 11:14 am
Kick I’m outside. This will help him stay healthy. He will get less beat up. Just a thought.
May 31st, 2026 at 11:45 am
@ModHairKen: If you weren’t a Saints fan.
If you weren’t a tool.
If you weren’t downtrodden.
If you weren’t a Troll.
If the Bucs have a winning season you’ll be gone! ?
May 31st, 2026 at 11:48 am
Wake me up when he actually makes a play and suits up for more than 6 games in a season.
May 31st, 2026 at 12:51 pm
@obvious one ….proof reading..of course it’s fixed now and makes me look crazy lol
May 31st, 2026 at 3:16 pm
Kancey is a great player. Why are you all so critical of him. He was practically the only one block so others could. Hake tackles and vice versa.
Now that we have Beefed up the D line it should be better for him either way less injury.
May 31st, 2026 at 3:47 pm
To be honest joe, Your suggestion is the right one. Put Kancey in rotattion. And this saves him later in the season when we are gonna need him. Sorry, but the guy is injury prone. There is no doubt though, he is a force when healthy,
May 31st, 2026 at 5:02 pm
I didn’t realize guys get hurt in a contact sport …
May 31st, 2026 at 5:54 pm
Kancey’s pressure from the inside, changes the entire defense, and helps the edges.
He has to stay healthy this year or they might be done with him unfortunately.
It is why Dean is gone. Very good when healthy but one year of staying healthy was a fluke.
May 31st, 2026 at 8:33 pm
I guess it’s just me, but when a team lacks depth, the starters themselves are more exposed to injury, because they are trying to help cover the spots that are injured.
For example, if a starting LG is injured, the Center and RT try to help the guy filling in. This explses them to more risk, and it creates weakness at their own positions.
At least that’s what I assume.
Same goes for Defense. With better depth, all of them should stay healthier.
And even starters rotate with backups.
May 31st, 2026 at 8:56 pm
To me, nursing a calf-strain injury over two seasons is indicative of lack of time and effort in focused training and preparation. For a man that was 23-24 years old, that is unacceptable; the same goes for a season-ending pectoral injury.
It’s a shame when a great player doesn’t invest in himself. Let’s assume that Calijah has matured some and had/has a thoughtful off-season. Otherwise, he’s doomed to a short career in a sport that the rest of us watching would give a nut for.
May 31st, 2026 at 11:01 pm
Calijah is 25 now. he is entering a time where he can make a hof case for his career. injuries is the only issue. when on the field he is outstanding. I’ve heard some nitpicking but i think he is underrated when he plays.
sometimes guys learn how to avoid injury, it took Mccoy a while. and people whine about Gerald too but not me.
May 31st, 2026 at 11:35 pm
Kancey is the key for the Defense. Need him to finally be healthy!
June 1st, 2026 at 7:03 am
He got hurt in training camp his 1st 2 season an missed first 4 games then played the rest in each season if he didn’t have a seasoning ending injury last year things would be way different for Kancey he is a stud an.injurues happen just unfortunate that he had a season ending injury last year he will be great this year