Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey (pectoral) could return if team reaches playoffs, advances past first round

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It turns out not all hope is lost for Calijah Kancey‘s return this season — but it would take a playoff run.

The Buccaneers defensive tackle, who tore his pectoral muscle in Tampa Bay’s Week 2 win over the Texans and underwent surgery this week, has a chance to return if his squad reaches the playoffs and advances beyond the first round, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per sources.

Kancey, initially expected to be lost for the year, has played a pivotal role on the Bucs’ defensive line since joining the team in the first round of the 2023 draft. He jumped from four sacks in a 14-game rookie season to 7.5 sacks last year despite appearing in only 12 contests.

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Having him back at some point in the playoffs, a stage Tampa Bay has reached five seasons running, would provide a boost both to the defensive interior’s ceiling and to the team’s spirits during a time when margins are razor-thin between contenders.

It’s Week 3, though, and any potential return is months off, a mere hypothetical the Bucs can’t hang too much hope on as they venture through the next 15 games of the regular season.

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