Shilo Sanders Waived by Buccaneers After Ejection

It’s been a tough break for Shilo Sanders. Just one day after being ejected from a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have officially waived the rookie safety. The news was confirmed by his agents, Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey, who are hoping another NFL team will pick him up before the roster cut deadline on Tuesday.

Ejection Mars Preseason Performance

The incident that likely sealed Sanders’ fate occurred in the second quarter of the game. Facing pressure to secure a final roster spot, Sanders threw a punch at Buffalo tight end Zach Davidson after some aggressive blocking. The play was already whistled dead, and while there was contact after the whistle, Sanders’ punch was deemed inexcusable by Head Coach Todd Bowles.

Bowles stated after the game, “You can’t throw punches in this league—that’s inexcusable. They’re going to get you every time. You’ve got to grow from that.” Adding to his rough night, Sanders was also flagged for pass interference earlier in the game, which likely played a role in the Buccaneers’ decision to part ways with him.

A Difficult Battle for a Roster Spot

Sanders was in a highly competitive situation for the final safety position on the Buccaneers’ roster. He was up against Kaevon Merriweather and Rashad Wisdom, competing for a spot behind starters Antoine Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith, and Christian Izien. Unfortunately, the ejection and penalties did little to help his chances of making the team.

As the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, Shilo initially signed with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent, hoping to forge his own NFL path. His release now puts his professional football future in the hands of other teams as the waiver process unfolds.

What’s Next for Shilo Sanders?

While this is undoubtedly a setback for Sanders, the NFL waiver system offers a potential lifeline. If he goes unclaimed, he could still find a place on a practice squad, allowing him to continue developing his skills. For a young player with evident potential, this challenging moment might just be a temporary pause rather than a definitive end to his NFL aspirations.