Calijah Kancey Injury Status
Calijah Kancey is headed to injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle. The 2023 first-round pick led the team in sacks in 2024 with 7.5 despite missing the first five games with a calf injury. Kancey has created a menacing tandem with Vita Vea, complementing the latter's power with speed and rare first-step quickness in the interior. In 2025, Kancey has played an integral role against the run, helping Vea bottle up rushers at the line. Through Week Two, Bowles' defense ranks fourth in fewest opponent yards per rush (3.3 avg.) and sixth in total rush defense (76.5 opponent rush yards per game). Kancey has shown the ability to split double teams with his prowess at the point of attack and get running backs on the ground. In his absence, Greg Gaines and Elijah Roberts will see increased snaps as Bowles takes a rotation approach with specialized packages against the run and pass.
"Everybody has to step up," said Bowles. "We can't replicate what Kancey can do for us and some of them have to play the run and some of them have to be ready for the pass. Everybody has to do their job."
Jets' Weapons
For the New York Jets, running back Breece Hall and receiver Garrett Wilson set the tone on offense. Hall leads the Jets in rushing yards with 136 and the club ranks sixth in the NFL in rush offense (141.0). Wilson leads New York in receptions (11) and receiving yards (145) and is tied with Jeremy Ruckert in receiving touchdowns with one. Hall makes rhythmic cuts and has a powerful frame to absorb contact. He has a good understanding of lane development and plays a vital role in the Jets' run game. Wilson pairs instant acceleration with tempo variations inside routes to manipulate coverage. He makes contorted catches with ease and is talented after the catch. The Bucs will key in on both playmakers on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
"I think Breece is one of the best backs in the league," noted Bowles. "He has size and he has speed and he has wiggle so that makes him tough to bring down. They have a good offensive line behind that. Garrett possesses speed, hands and route-running so that is always going to be a problem when you have all three of those things. He has been a good wide receiver in this league."
Baker Mayfield Mobility
Baker Mayfield rallied the offense against the Texans and rushed three times for 33 yards. Each of his runs gained a first down and kept drives alive for Tampa Bay. His most notable run came on the team's game-winning drive when he took off on fourth-and-10 for a gain of 15 yards. Mayfield's physical disposition on the field galvanizes the squad and his urgency willed Tampa Bay to victory on the road. He possesses elite pocket awareness and understanding of when to use his legs to evade incoming rushers to spring for daylight. Mayfield's improvisation skills spurred the team and helped the Bucs get off to a 2-0 start to the 2025 campaign.
"He has a good feel for the game," described Bowles. "He has a good feel for coverages that are being run when they have their backs turned and when the pressure is hard outside and when it is hard inside and he has a good feel for that. You cannot teach that"
