The Tampa Bay Buccaneers first-round pick Calijah Kancey has been impressing early in camp. The former Pittsburgh star has been picking up the scheme and head coach Todd Bowles has been feeling good about the pick. Unfortunately, Kancey went down in practice with a calf injury. While that may not seem serious, it has the potential to keep the defensive tackle out for a while.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Calijah Kancey Suffers Injury
He was turning the corner on a drill when his calf gave out. He could put no weight on it and was helped onto a cart. “He’ll get an MRI and we’ll see where it’s at,” coach Todd Bowles said after practice. Calf injuries are tricky. Strained muscle injuries can linger and hinder movement for a long time. It can be everything from a minor strain that needs a couple of weeks of rest to an injury that could end his season. The team is hoping for the former.
Expectations In 2023
In a post-Tom Brady era, no one expects a lot from Tampa Bay. However, the roster is not void of talent. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are a great wide-receiver duo. The defense is full of blue-chip players that can make big plays. The questions revolve around the quarterback position. Baker Mayfield is the likely starter but he is on his fourth team in the last couple of seasons. While the former number-one overall pick has shown promise, there’s a reason that he has been released or traded by teams in the past.
The good news for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is the NFC South is one of the easier divisions in football. The hope is that Calijah Kancey just needs rest and will be ready to go for week 1.