Buccaneers get a last-second boost to try to keep flickering playoff hopes alive
The Bucs’ defense got some much-needed help ahead of season finale against the Panthers.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are starting to get further wedged between a rock and a hard space as the final week of the NFL regular season approaches. The Bucs need two big things to happen to claim their fifth straight NFC South title – they need to beat the Carolina Panthers on Saturday, and they need the injury-riddled New Orleans Saints to knock off the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
The Bucs got some help on Friday regarding the former, as their chances of improving on the defensive side of the ball just got a shot in the arm. The Bucs announced they are activating defensive lineman Calijah Kancey off of injured reserve. The team waived linebacker John Bullock to accommodate the move.
Bucs activating DL Calijah Kancey off of injured reserve ahead of clash with Carolina
Kancey has missed almost all of the 2025 season with a pectoral injury that he suffered against Houston back in Week 2. Kancey joined fellow starters Cody Mauch and Luke Goedeke in suffering injuries against the Texans. Goedeke and now Kancey proved they were able to make it back before the end of the season. The Bucs activated his 21-day practice window to return from IR back on December 24.
The Bucs have struggled on both sides of the ball as they’ve lost seven of their last eight games to fall from 6-2 to 7-9, but the defensive struggles have been particularly frustrating. Tampa Bay has seen their pass rush fall off a cliff while allowing chunk plays at a rate that you typically don’t see from NFL teams, at least those that lead their divisions.
Kancey led the Bucs’ defense in sacks last season with 7.5. He certainly has the ability to help stabilize the Bucs’ run defense while giving them an interior pass rush that they could desperately use. However, Todd Bowles said this week that he’ll be on a snap count, so it remains to be seen just how much the Bucs plan on limiting him.
The Bucs and Panthers get underway at 4:30 pm ET on Saturday in Tampa.
