The defensive lineman has been plagued by injuries during his three NFL seasons and likely is out for the year.
When healthy, Calijah Kancey has been a productive member of the Bucs defense. But injuries have shadowed him through his brief NFL career.
When healthy, Calijah Kancey has been a productive member of the Bucs defense. But injuries have shadowed him through his brief NFL career.
TAMPA — A 20-19 victory on Monday Night Football came at a high cost for the Bucs.
Defensive lineman Calijah Kancey is expected to miss the rest of the season with a torn pectoral muscle that will require surgery, the Tampa Bay Times has confirmed.
It is not immediately clear when Kancey sustained the injury. But on his final play in the second quarter, his left arm appeared to be hanging loosely while he struggled to rush Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud while facing offensive tackle Tytus Howard.
All three of Kancey’s seasons in the NFL have been interrupted by injuries. As a rookie, he suffered a calf injury in training camp and missed most of the season’s first four games. He also missed the first five games of last season with a calf injury, but finished strong with 7 ½ sacks in the final 12 contests.
Former Ram Greg Gaines and 2025 fifth-round pick Elijah Roberts likely will get most of the snaps in Kancey’s place.
If he fails to return this year, Kancey, who was the team’s first-round pick in 2023, will have missed 45% of Tampa Bay’s games the past three seasons.
Times staff writer Rick Stroud contributed to this report.
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