Kancey's Health: Key to Bucs' Pass Rush

0:00It's April 20th, I'm Cory with the story, and this is NFL News today, your AI-powered football briefing. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers grabbed defensive tackle Kalisha Kansi in the first round back in 2023 to boost their pass rush. Dudes got skills when he's on the field, but injuries have sideline him for 22 games over his first three seasons. Heading into year 4 in 2026, staying healthy is his top mission. He's dealt with calf issues early in 2023 and 2024, then a pectoral tear wiped out 14 games last year. Now he's in the final year of his rookie deal, and the Bucks hold a 5th year option worth $14,475,000. For 2026, other teams are locking in their 2023 first rounders early, but Tampa's holding off to see what he does. Fans and analysts see the potential though, his injuries mask solid impact. In healthy, Kansi ranks 7th among defensive tackles with 7.5 sacks in 2024, despite missing

1:02five games. He tied for 20th in pressures with 39, proving he disrupts quarterbacks like the best interior guys. This offseason, Kansi's laser focused on bulking up his durability to hit all 17 games. The Bucks kick off the draft Thursday, eyeing more defensive help no matter one. If he stays on the field and balls out like last year, that extension feels inevitable, keeping the past rush fierce for years to come.