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 Sunday, 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.
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.
In the here and now, Tampa Bay has a cushion thanks to its 2-0 start, but still must compensate for Kancey's absence by getting the most out of backups such as Greg Gaines and Elijah Roberts. The injury bug has also bitten harder on the other side of the line, leaving offensive tackle Luke Goedeke and guard Cody Mauch on injured reserve as the Buccaneers still await the return of two-time All-Pro Tristan Wirfs.
Through two games, the offense is ranked 18th in scoring and the defense sits 13th in points allowed, middle-of-the-road placements that could see improvement thanks to eventual reinforcements such as Wirfs and wide receiver Chris Godwin but also won't be easily remedied with other injuries mounting.
The Buccaneers forge ahead, regardless, starting with Sunday's game against the Jets at 1 p.m. ET.