Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Boost in production in '24
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Kancey furnished 28 tackles (22 solo), including 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery across 12 regular-season games in 2024.
Kancey's 515 snaps on defense during the campaign represented a 40-play reduction from his 2023 rookie campaign, with the first-round pick also playing two fewer games. Nevertheless, Kancey finished with two additional tackles and 3.5 additional sacks compared to the prior season, but he hit as much as the five-tackle mark on only two occasions following a delayed Week 6 season debut due to a calf injury. The Georgia product could be set to take the next step in his development during the 2025 season given the improvement he showed this past season, although he headed into the offseason on a down note by tallying just a single tackle across 50 snaps during the wild-card loss against the Commanders.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Productive as pass rusher Monday
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Kancey recorded two tackles (two solo) including 2.0 sacks during Monday's 30-24 overtime loss at Kansas City.
Kancey got a late start to the 2024 season, but he now has three sacks over his first four games of the year. If he can keep up his current level of production, he'll force his way into the IDP conversation as the second half of the season plays out.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Records sack in season debut
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Kancey (calf) tallied two tackles (all solo), including 1.0 sacks and an additional tackle for loss, in the Buccaneers' 51-27 win over the Saints on Sunday.
Kancey finally completed his recovery from a pre-Week 1 calf issue to make his long-awaited season debut, and the second-year edge rusher found a way to make an immediate impact. During his 44 snaps, Kancey brought down Spencer Rattler, and he could be set for a bump in participation during a challenging Week 7 home Monday night matchup against the dangerous Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Making season debut
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Kancey (calf) is active Sunday against the Saints.
Kancey will make his season debut in Week 6 after tending to his calf injury suffered during Week 1 prep. The return of the Buccaneers' 2023 first-round selection should be a major boost to their defensive front in New Orleans on Sunday.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Questionable, but set for 2024 debut
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Kancey (calf) is listed as questionable but is expected to play in Sunday's game against the Saints, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Though he's taking an injury designation into Sunday, Kancey never looked to be at much risk of missing the contest after turning in full practices Wednesday through Friday. The second-year defensive tackle will be officially cleared when Tampa Bay releases its inactive list 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff. Kancey had missed the Buccaneers' first five games of the season due to the calf injury, which he suffered while practicing leading up to Week 1.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Full participant in practice
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Kancey (calf) was a full participant in Tampa Bay's practice Wednesday, Brianna Dix of the team's official site reports.
Kancey is now on track to make his season debut Sunday versus the Saints after missing the first five games due to a calf injury. The 23-year-old will likely start on the defensive line alongside Vita Vea and Logan Hall in the upcoming matchup.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Out once again
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Head coach Todd Bowles stated Kancey (calf) will be out Thursday against the Falcons, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Kancey has yet to play this season since suffering the injury in practice during Week 1 prep. Bowles told Greg Auman of Fox Sports that Kancey hasn't suffered any setbacks and if the game was taking place Sunday, he might be able to play.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Estimated as DNP
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Kancey (calf) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's injury estimation.
Kancey has missed the Buccaneers' first four contests due to this calf issue, and he'll likely need to upgrade to at least limited participation either Tuesday or Wednesday in order to suit up Thursday night against the Falcons. If Kancey is unable to play again in Week 5, expect C.J. Brewer to see additional work on the Buccaneers' defensive line.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Out again for Week 3
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Coach Todd Bowles said Kancey (calf) will not play Sunday against the Broncos, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Kancey will have to wait another week to make his 2024 debut. The Bucs are dealing with injuries to both Kancey and Vita Vea (knee) on the interior of the defensive line, leaving Greg Gaines, William Gholston and Mike Greene to soak up extra snaps.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Won't play Week 2
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Kancey (calf) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Lions, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Kancey is now in line to miss his second consecutive game in Week 2 as the 23-year-old continues to recover from the calf injury he sustained one week ago. Expect William Gholston and Ben Stille to see increased work with the Buccaneers' first-team defense in Kancey's stead.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Remains sidelined
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Kancey (calf) did not practice Wednesday.
Kancey was a late addition to the Buccaneers' injury report ahead of their Week 1 win over the Commanders before being ruled out for the season opener. The Pittsburgh product now opens Week 2 prep still sidelined by the injury with no real timetable for his return. However, he can still be considered questionable for Sunday's matchup with the Lions and will try to return to the practice field Thursday or Friday.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Won't play Week 1
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Kancery has been ruled out of Sunday's regular-season opener against the Commanders due to a calf injury, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Kancey popped up on the Bucs' injury report Friday with a calf issue, and it appears serious enough for the 2023 first-round pick to be held out for Week 1. His next chance to suit up will be against the Lions on Sept. 15. With Logan Hall (foot) also ruled out for the regular-season opener, William Gholston and Ben Stille will start at defensive end, with Vita Vea starting at nose tackle.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Could miss Week 1
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Kancey (calf) was added to the Buccaneers' injury report Friday and is now questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Commanders, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The 2023 first-round pick was a limited participant in Friday's practice due to a calf injury, and he's now in jeopardy of missing Tampa Bay's regular-season opener. If Kancey is unable to suit up Sunday, expect Ben Stille or William Gholston to serve as the Buccaneers' top left defensive end.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Returns to field
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Kancey (undisclosed) returned to practice Monday, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Kancey first reportedly missed practice last Monday for undisclosed reasons and has been sidelined since. However, the second-year pro donned the pads once again Monday and took part in warmups, suggesting he should be good to go moving forward.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Kept out of practice Monday
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Kancey (undisclosed) did not participate in Monday's practice session, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
It's not clear what is ailing Kancey, but it shouldn't be serious enough to keep the 2023 first-round pick out of practice for an extended period of time. Kancey registered 4.0 sacks across 14 regular-season games last year, and he will play a pivotal role on the Bucs' defensive front alongside starters Vita Vea and Logan Hall.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Primed for big second season
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Kancey, who recorded 4.0 sacks across 14 regular-season games as a rookie in 2023, could be primed for a big step forward in his second campaign, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Kancey's NFL career got off to a slow start a year ago due to a training camp calf injury that also ended up costing him three regular-season games. The Pittsburgh product went on to play under 50 snaps in all but two of his 14 contests, but he was a consistent rotational contributor that led all rookies with 12 tackles for loss before adding six stops (four solo), including 1.5 sacks, and a pass defensed in two postseason contests. Kancey now stands to benefit from not only the valuable experience he garnered as a rookie, but from the presence of a more svelte Vita Vea next to him on the defensive line.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Questionable Sunday
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Kancey (quad) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Titans.
The 2023 first-round pick out of Pittsburgh popped up on the Buccaneers' injury report earlier in the week with a quad issue, and he recorded limited practice sessions both Thursday and Friday. If Kancey is unable to suit up this weekend, Mike Greene should see an increased role on Tampa Bay's defensive line.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Ruled out for Week 3
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Kancey (calf) will miss his second game in a row after being ruled out for Monday's contest against the Eagles, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Kancey has been battling a calf injury he sustained at the beginning of training camp. He was able to make his pro debut in Week 1 against the Vikings but logged just 11 defensive snaps before aggravating the injury. Undrafted free agent Mike Greene -- who played in 25 defensive snaps in Week 2 against the Bears and registered a tackle -- is set to once again take on an increased workload, this time against the Eagles' dominant offensive line.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Misses first practice of week
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Kancey (calf) did not participate at practice Thursday.
Kancey has not played since reaggravating a strained right calf in Week 1, and he's not off to a great start ahead of Monday's game versus the Eagles. He'll probably need to practice in some capacity Friday or Saturday in order to have a chance at suiting up in Week 3.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Won't play vs. Bears
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Kancey (calf) is listed as out for Sunday's game versus Chicago, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
After not being able to practice at all this week, Kancey will have to sit out of Tampa Bay's matchup versus the Bears in Week 2. In his stead, undrafted rookie Mike Greene could be in line to pick up an increased workload.
