When Buccaneers defensive tackle Kalijah Kansey was sidelined during training camp, it briefly felt like deja vu all over again. Kansey, a first-round draft pick of the Buccaneers last season, missed more than 10 days with a knee injury and it was unclear whether the team would see him in practice until the start of the regular season.
Kalijah Kansy after the Buccaneers return from Jacksonville He returned to practice on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday’s practice was big for him, as he recorded a sack in an 11-on-11 drill and also played well in one-on-one drills against Tampa Bay’s offensive linemen.
Kaliya Kansi is feeling good
But by far the biggest test was facing the Dolphins in a joint training camp practice on Wednesday, where he had to watch and analyze a new offense while competing against players he’d never faced before.
Buccaneers DT Kariya Kansi – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
“The game against Miami was great,” Kansey said. “It was fun to finally play against someone other than my teammates. I thought we worked hard on both ends today. We really saw something different. They’re really moving laterally up front. You line up in front of helmets that aren’t our teammates, and you never know what’s going to happen.”
“The first time I played against them, [I was] I watched some footage of a practice game from two years ago and their last preseason game. It was great to get in shape and play against them.”
Any concerns about Kunsey’s minor knee injury have completely evaporated. Kunsey has looked very good in the pass rush and against the run. One of his biggest strengths as a defensive tackle is his quickness, especially off the ball, so the fact that he’s moving as well as he has before bodes well for Tampa Bay.
“I feel great, I feel great,” Kalija Kansey said. “My body is healthy, I’m in good shape, I’m moving around on the court, I’m having fun with my guys.”
Kariya Kansi completes first full Bucks training camp
Kalijah Kansey is in his second year in the NFL and is expected to make another big leap after his first real training camp. The former first-round draft pick last year missed the entire preseason after suffering a calf injury early on the third day of practice, before the Buccaneers were in full pads. Kansey returned in Week 1, but the injury recurred, causing him to miss more time before returning in Week 6 against Detroit.
Buccaneers DT Kariya Kansi – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
So this time, Kanshi is mainly Training camp is in Tampa. Although his injuries have been minor this year, he has held up well and performed at a high level.
“It feels great,” Kansi said. “Just getting the rust off and actually playing against my guys…[They] You know what you’re going to do, you know what your opponent is going to do, but how do you still win? I think that’s good for me and my teammates. You get to play somebody every day and win or you learn from the losses. I think that’s great. By the time the season starts, I’ll be prepared and ready for whatever is in front of me.”
Part of the reason the Buccaneers defense is successful is because of Cansey and nose tackle Vita Vea, who has lost weight this season. What we saw during the camp Tampa Bay will once again excel at stopping the run, while Kansey’s enhanced pass-rush ability should help him improve in that area with the hands-on experience he gained in training camp this year.
