A torn pectoral muscle snatched Calijah Kancey's 2025 season away from him, and heading into OTAs, the young defensive tackle has one goal in mind: to play every game next year.
Kancey tore his pectoral muscle in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Week 2 victory over the Houston Texans. The injury sidelined him for 14 straight games until he returned against the Carolina Panthers on Jan. 3.
He said he did everything in his power to get back on the field because that was his goal after suffering his injury.
"Being able to put on my helmet, go out there and ball with my brothers," Kancey told reporters on Monday. "Whether we got the win or not, I just wanted to show them like, 'Man, I'm here for y'all.'"
Tampa Bay won all three games Kancey appeared in, but his production was extremely limited.
Kancey, the 19th pick in the 2023 draft, had one tackle last season. The 6-foot defensive tackle hasn't played an entire season in his tenure with the team, but he's wreaked havoc regardless.
The former Pittsburgh Panther recorded 28 tackles (22 solo), 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery throughout 12 games in 2024. Kancey played 14 games in his rookie campaign and accumulated 26 tackles (19 solo) and four sacks.
Tampa Bay's first-round pick has showcased the ability to dominate opposing offensive linemen inside the trenches, but as former NFL coach Bill Parcells famously said, "The best ability is availability."
Kancey's extensive history of calf injuries and his torn pectoral muscle could determine whether the Buccaneers exercise his fifth-year option.
Entering the last year of his four-year rookie contract, Kancey is set to make a fully guaranteed $2.73 million in 2026. Adding a fifth year would increase his salary to $14.47 million, according to Spotrac.
Tampa Bay has until next Friday to decide whether to pick up Kancey's option. If the team declines the option, Kancey will become an unrestricted free agent next March.
Kancey, like his teammate Cody Mauch, said he's going to go out and play his best, when asked about his future with the Buccaneers.
"I'm here to play football," Kancey said. "I wish I had more knowledge on it, but that's not nothing I'm worried about. I know if I go out there and do what I need to do, it'll all happen. So, that's the least of my worries."
Next season will be a crucial one for Kancey. And the 25-year-old wants to turn around the narrative that he's injury-prone and secure his future in Tampa Bay.
"My main goal is to play every game," Kancey said. "That's my main goal, man.
"It's all just play every game. Be ready to play every game."
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