The Tampa Bay Buccaneers couldn't take advantage of a Green Bay Packers offensive line dealing with multiple injuries Sunday, finishing their 17-14 loss without a sack and with only two quarterback hits.
One of those hits came from Calijah Kancey, but the former first-round pick is still looking for his first sack of the season. Kancey recorded three tackles through Tampa Bay's first three games and didn't record a tackle against Green Bay.
Head coach Todd Bowles was asked Monday about Kancey's production through four games.
“He's playing hard,” Bowles said. “Some weeks, he has production; some weeks he just misses some.”
Bowles wants those near-misses to start showing up on the stat sheet.
“We've got to get a little more production,” Bowles said.
“But he does wreck the backfield, and he's playing hard.”
Kancey led Tampa Bay with 7.5 sacks in 2024 and entered this season with 11.5 sacks and 30 quarterback hits in his career. Through four games this season, he has three tackles, one quarterback hit, and no sacks.
Green Bay was able to protect Jordan Love, in part, by getting the ball out quickly. Love completed 22 of 30 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns, and Bowles said the Packers' approach limited the time Tampa Bay's defensive front had to get to him.
“The ball was coming out in 2.4 seconds, which he's very good at,” Bowles said. “He's one of the best starters in the league at getting the ball out so we tried to concentrate on coverage. Those guys were trying to rush the passer hard [but] the ball was coming out so fast.”
Tampa Bay's secondary held up behind the pass rush. Green Bay finished with 283 total yards, converted two of 10 third downs and turned the ball over twice. Love was still able to operate without being sacked despite playing behind a makeshift offensive line.
The lack of pressure extended beyond Kancey. Yaya Diaby didn't record a sack or quarterback hit against Green Bay, while David Walker played 24 defensive snaps and also finished without a quarterback hit. Outside linebacker Rueben Bain Jr. missed his second consecutive game with groin and shoulder injuries.
Bain was estimated as a full participant on Tampa Bay's first Week 5 injury report Monday after being ruled out against Green Bay. His progress could give the Buccaneers another pass-rush option Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys.
Kancey, however, has already shown he can produce from the interior. He led the Buccaneers in sacks two seasons ago, and Bowles is now publicly asking for more after Kancey's first four games produced three tackles, one quarterback hit, and no sacks.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Todd Bowles challenges Calijah Kancey after Bucs pass rush disappears
