Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans have to feel nothing but pure elation after a hard-fought win against the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football, as Baker Mayfield led a gutsy comeback that helped the NFC South favorites move to 2-0 on the 2025 season. However, not everyone made it out of that game fully healthy.
Standout defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, who was in the middle of beating up on a suspect Texans offensive line, had to leave the game. Head coach Todd Bowles said that Kancey is in a sling and will possibly undergo more tests to determine the true severity of the injury.
Kancey suffered a pec injury that could lead to him missing some big games in the near future. While he may only miss a few games if the injury is a minor muscle tear, a more serious tendon injury might be enough to end his 2025 season after he played in just two games.
Buccaneers DT Calijah Kancey suffers serious pec injury in MNF win
Kancey came into his own last year, tallying 7.5 sacks in 12 games and proving that he can be an effective pass rusher in the NFL despite the initial concerns about his lack of traditional defensive tackle size. He has quickly become an indispensable part of this defense.
Injuries are, unfortunately, nothing new for Kancey in his pro career. Kancey sat out three games during his rookie year and missed five during the 2024 campaign. After making some noticeable improvements in his game, it is becoming clear that injuries are the biggest impediment to his success in the NFL.
Kancey does not have a true replacement on this roster. Rookie Elijah Roberts might see an uptick in snaps, and Bowles may place even more of an emphasis on volatile young lineman Logan Hall as a result, but both of them are inferior players when compared to the disruptive force Kancey has become.
Kancey has quickly become one of the few starters on the Bucs defense that fans don't have to watch with a microscope week in and week out. Losing him would be nothing short of a crushing loss as they try to hold off the upstart Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South.