Return for the regular season 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, he’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 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