After going undrafted during the 2025 NFL Draft, former Colorado Buffaloes standout defensive back Shilo Sanders ended up signing a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Of course, Sanders is the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders. He may not receive as much hype or attention as Cleveland Browns’ rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders does, but Shilo has made a name for himself as well.
Since joining the Buccaneers, Sanders has been fighting to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. No one knows what the outcome of that fight will end up being, but he didn’t help himself much during the team’s preseason finale.
Against the Buffalo Bills in the final game of the preseason, Sanders was ejected from the game after throwing a punch. He was being blocked aggressively by Bills tight end Zach Davidson and didn’t like the physicality that was being shown towards him.
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Sanders lashed out and was quickly ejected from the game.
Following the preseason finale, Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles spoke out about Sanders and didn’t hold back his criticism of the rookie’s decision.
“You can’t throw punches in this league,” Bowles said. “That’s inexcusable. They’re going to get you every time. Gotta grow from that.”
Obviously, bad decisions like the one Sanders made can cost a player a spot on the roster. It may not and Bowles could decide to keep him around, but it certainly did not help his chances.
During the 2024 college football season with Colorado, Sanders put together a strong year. He racked up 67 total tackles to go along with a sack, a forced fumble, and two defended passes.
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There is no question that Sanders has the talent and potential to be an NFL defensive back. He has work to do and he has to keep his temper in check, but there are reasons to believe that he can make a roster and become a role player.
Expect to hear more news about Sanders’ future with the Buccaneers in the near future. Bowles didn’t like what he saw from him against Buffalo, but that mistake alone may not be held against him to the point of being a roster cut.
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