The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have their entire season on the line in Week 18, with a rare Saturday game — at home — against the Carolina Panthers and with the NFC South Division title possibly hanging in the balance.
The Buccaneers, who have lost 7 of their last 8 games, hope they got a huge boost at the last minute by bringing back a former first round pick to the active roster as part of a flurry of roster moves one day before the game.
“The Bucs have activated DL Calijah Kancey off injured reserve, where he has been since Week 3 due to a pectoral injury,” Buccaneers.com’s Scott Smith wrote on X on Friday, January 2. “He is available to play against the Panthers Sunday. Rookie LB John Bullock was waived.”
Kancey was Tampa Bay’s 2023 first round pick and led the Buccaneers with 7.5 sacks in 2024 despite missing 5 games due to injuries.
The Buccaneers also elevated edge rusher and former NFL All-Pro Jason Pierre-Paul to the active roster.
Kancey Originally Feared Out For Season
The original diagnosis on Kancey was he would be out for the rest of the regular season — what we now know was a huge blow to a defense that’s failed to establish anything resembling an identity this season.
“Sources: Bucs DT Calijah Kancey will miss the rest of the season with a pectoral injury suffered on Monday night vs. the Texans ,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote on September 16. “The former first-round pick is a huge piece of Tampa’s defense.”
“An MRI just now confirmed #Buccaneers DT Calijah Kancey tore his pec last night, source says,” NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo wrote on his official X account. “He will need surgery and his season is over.”
Not so fast, fellas.
Over the last month, rumors began to swirl Kancey might be able to come back late in the season or for playoff games — of which the Buccaneers won’t have any if they lose to the Panthers or if they beat the Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints in Week 18.
“Big one for the Bucs: Tampa Bay has opened the 21-day window for star DT Calijah Kancey, who is recovering from a torn pec,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on X on December 24. “He remains on IR as he acclimates back to practice.”
Big Talk From Kancey Before Another Injury
It’s not unfair to think Kancey coming back for even just one game is a sign of good faith to the franchise in terms of his commitment — because in any other terms Kancey seems like a bust .
What else do you call a player who has missed 22 games due to injuries over his first 3 seasons?
In Kancey’s eyes, 2025 was going to be the year he made the leap to an elite NFL interior defensive lineman — something we now must wait to see if it happens in 2026.
“I think you would be looking at the (NFL) sack leader,” Kancey told Buccaneers.com’s Brianna Dix before the season when asked what a fully healthy season by him might look like.
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