

Shilo Sanders‘ NFL dream has suffered a major setback after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced his release less than 24 hours after his ejection from a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.
The 25-year-old safety, son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders and brother of Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, was fighting for a roster spot as the 2025 season approached.
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But his actions on Saturday night, which included throwing punches at Bills tight end Zach Davidson, proved costly.
Sanders‘ frustration boiled over during a sequence away from the ball when Davidson appeared to shove him toward the end zone.
The two players exchanged shoves to the helmet before separating, but Sanders’ temper flared. In full view of an official, he swung a punch at Davidson, leading to his immediate ejection from the game.
A costly mistake at the wrong time
The timing of the incident could not have been worse for Sanders. NFL teams must trim their preseason squads from 90 players to 53 by Tuesday, leaving little margin for error among those on the roster bubble.
Sanders, who had featured in all three of Tampa Bay’s preseason contests, was attempting to prove he could earn a place on the active roster as an undrafted free agent.
Instead, his dismissal from Saturday’s matchup prompted swift action from the Buccaneers‘ front office. The following morning, the team placed him on waivers, effectively ending his hopes of securing a spot in Tampa Bay’s secondary.
His agent, Robert Bailey, acknowledged the uncertainty of Sanders‘ situation while expressing hope another organization would give him an opportunity. “We’re hoping he gets claimed on waivers,” Bailey told ESPN.
The safety’s predicament is further complicated by the league-wide roster cuts happening simultaneously. With every franchise evaluating talent and making tough decisions, the window for Sanders to land elsewhere is narrow.
Sanders’ NFL journey
Sanders‘ path to the NFL has been anything but straightforward. After playing college football at both South Carolina and Jackson State, he went undrafted before receiving a chance with the Buccaneers earlier this year.
His participation in Tampa Bay’s preseason campaign suggested coaches were at least interested in evaluating his potential as a depth option.
However, Saturday’s flare-up raises questions about his discipline and composure at the professional level.
While physicality is part of the game, the league has shown little tolerance for conduct that crosses the line into fighting, particularly during moments that have little bearing on the play.
Now, Sanders must wait to see if another franchise is willing to take a chance on him. With his athletic background and football lineage, he remains a player with potential upside. But for the moment, his NFL future hangs in the balance, a reminder of how quickly opportunity can slip away.
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