The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are once again 2-0 and riding high, but they got some brutal news at the worst possible time. It's a good time to be a Buccaneers' fan, as the team eeked out a dramatic win on Monday Night Football in a hostile environment.
The team is once again 2-0 and appears to be the heavy favorite to once again win the NFC South and earn another home playoff game. Some have wondered if the Bucs could actually jump into legitimate contention this year.
With major roster and coaching questions from other off NFC teams, the stable, steady Bucs could make a playoff run. However, on Tuesday, the day after their dramatic win, they got horrible news at the worst possible time.
Calijah Kancey appears to be out for the rest of the season
Stud defensive lineman Calijah Kancey, a first-round pick back in 2023, is now set to miss the rest of the 2025 NFL Season with a torn pectoral muscle:
Sources: Buccaneers DE Calijah Kancey, their 2023 first-round pick who had 11.5 sacks during his first two NFL seasons, is feared to have torn his pec during Monday night’s win at Houston. If tests confirm it, he will be out for the season. pic.twitter.com/NmSTQfup2H
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 16, 2025
Still just 24 years old, this was shaping up to be a huge contract year for Kancey, as he is eligible for an extension following the 2025 season. Through 28 career games in the regular season, Kancey has racked up 11.5 sacks, 55 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 29 QB hits.
Those are impressive number for someone in the interior of the defense. He had double-digit tackles for loss and QB hits in each of his first two seasons and even had 7.5 sacks back in 2024. The Bucs will have to fill this void and could bring in a free agent to try and soften the blow.
Injuries are a guarantee in today's NFL, and it just stinks to see a young, up-and-coming player like Calijah Kancey go down with something that ends his season. Hopefully Tampa has a notable, corresponding move after this loss.