The preseason often serves as a proving ground for rookies hoping to carve out a place in the NFL. For Shilo Sanders , that opportunity may have slipped through his hands on Saturday night. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie safety was ejected in the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills, an incident that could weigh heavily as roster decisions loom in the coming days.
Shilo Sanders ejected after throwing punch in Buccaneers’ preseason game
Shilo Sanders, the son of Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, entered camp with high expectations but little margin for error. Having gone undrafted out of Colorado, he was already in a crowded competition behind Antoine Winfield Jr. and several other safeties on the depth chart. A strong preseason debut hinted at promise, yet the latest display of frustration may hurt his chances.
The flashpoint came when Buffalo tight end Zach Davidson locked up with Sanders downfield after a short completion. The two exchanged shoves before Sanders, visibly frustrated, threw a punch that connected with Davidson’s helmet. Officials wasted no time: a flag for unnecessary roughness and an ejection followed, sending the rookie to the locker room. One play later, Buffalo found the end zone, magnifying the costly lapse.
Sanders’ stat line across the preseason—three total tackles—was modest but serviceable for someone fighting from the bottom of the roster. Unfortunately, discipline matters as much as production for fringe players, and this moment will likely be a focal point in the coaches’ evaluation.
Sons of Coach Prime endure tough weekend
It wasn’t just Shilo having a difficult day. His younger brother, Shedeur Sanders, struggled in his own preseason outing with the Cleveland Browns, completing just 3 of 6 passes for 14 yards while enduring five sacks. For both brothers, the final weeks of training camp now bring uncertainty about whether they will be part of an active roster when the regular season begins.
Shilo Sanders’ NFL dream is far from over, but the timing of his mistake couldn’t have been worse. With Tampa Bay’s roster cuts imminent, his future hangs in the balance, and the coming days will reveal whether his journey continues in pewter and red—or takes a detour elsewhere.
Also Read: Shedeur Sanders finally explains his reaction after being subbed out late against Rams in preseason finale
Shilo Sanders ejected after throwing punch in Buccaneers’ preseason game
Shilo Sanders, the son of Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, entered camp with high expectations but little margin for error. Having gone undrafted out of Colorado, he was already in a crowded competition behind Antoine Winfield Jr. and several other safeties on the depth chart. A strong preseason debut hinted at promise, yet the latest display of frustration may hurt his chances.
Buccaneers rookie DB Shilo Sanders was ejected for throwing a punch at Bills TE Zach Davidson. pic.twitter.com/OY7vSA8u3x
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 24, 2025
The flashpoint came when Buffalo tight end Zach Davidson locked up with Sanders downfield after a short completion. The two exchanged shoves before Sanders, visibly frustrated, threw a punch that connected with Davidson’s helmet. Officials wasted no time: a flag for unnecessary roughness and an ejection followed, sending the rookie to the locker room. One play later, Buffalo found the end zone, magnifying the costly lapse.
Sanders’ stat line across the preseason—three total tackles—was modest but serviceable for someone fighting from the bottom of the roster. Unfortunately, discipline matters as much as production for fringe players, and this moment will likely be a focal point in the coaches’ evaluation.
Sons of Coach Prime endure tough weekend
It wasn’t just Shilo having a difficult day. His younger brother, Shedeur Sanders, struggled in his own preseason outing with the Cleveland Browns, completing just 3 of 6 passes for 14 yards while enduring five sacks. For both brothers, the final weeks of training camp now bring uncertainty about whether they will be part of an active roster when the regular season begins.
Shilo Sanders’ NFL dream is far from over, but the timing of his mistake couldn’t have been worse. With Tampa Bay’s roster cuts imminent, his future hangs in the balance, and the coming days will reveal whether his journey continues in pewter and red—or takes a detour elsewhere.
Also Read: Shedeur Sanders finally explains his reaction after being subbed out late against Rams in preseason finale
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