The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released rookie safety Shilo Sanders on Sunday, less than a day after he was ejected from the team’s preseason finale.
Sanders was thrown out of Saturday’s game against Buffalo after throwing a punch at tight end Zach Davidson in the second quarter.
Officials immediately removed him from the contest, and head coach Todd Bowles later called the action “inexcusable,” noting that discipline is non-negotiable at the professional level.
Sanders entered the league this summer as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado. Over six college seasons at South Carolina, Jackson State, and Colorado, he appeared in 52 games with 33 starts. He finished his career with 217 tackles, six interceptions, and five forced fumbles. Despite his experience, the 24-year-old was already viewed as a roster long shot given the depth in Tampa Bay’s secondary and the challenges facing undrafted players.
The timing of Saturday’s ejection left little margin for recovery. NFL teams must trim rosters to 53 players by Tuesday, and Sanders’ mistake on the field all but sealed his status as expendable. His agents, Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey, confirmed Sunday that Tampa Bay had placed him on waivers and said they remain hopeful another team will claim him. If he goes unclaimed, a practice squad spot remains a possibility, though that decision will depend on whether the Buccaneers or another team sees value in giving him a second chance.
Sanders is the oldest son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders and the older brother of Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders. His path has drawn significant attention because of those family ties, but the NFL is rarely forgiving to players who do not demonstrate consistent discipline and reliability.
Whether another opportunity comes quickly or not, Sanders faces a pivotal point in his career. The roster cut illustrates how little margin for error exists for undrafted players trying to earn a place in the league. For now, his future will depend on how teams view both his college resume and the events of his short time in Tampa Bay.
