Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie safety Shilo Sanders, son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, was ejected during Saturday night’s preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The undrafted free agent out of Colorado is fighting for a roster or practice squad spot, but hurt his chances after receiving an unnecessary roughness penalty for punching tight end Zach Davidson following a heated exchange on the field.
Sanders’ actions drew immediate attention from his teammates and coaches. Linebacker John Bullock attempted to calm him down, while head coach Todd Bowles looked visibly frustrated as Sanders made his way to the sideline late in the second quarter. After Tampa Bay’s 23-19 loss, Bowles addressed the incident directly, stressing that throwing punches is unacceptable in the NFL and reminding players that such behavior will always draw penalties.
Shilo Sanders (NFL)Sanders Faces Crucial Roster Battle as Discipline Concerns Threaten NFL Career Aspirations
The ejection comes at a critical time for Sanders, who is battling Kaevon Merriweather and Rashad Wisdom for the team’s final safety spot behind Antoine Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith, and Christian Izien. He was already flagged earlier in the game for defensive pass interference, compounding a difficult night that may affect his standing with the team as final roster cuts approach.
This is not Sanders’ first disciplinary issue. In 2023, while playing at Colorado, he was ejected for a targeting penalty after a high hit on UCLA running back Carsen Ryan. With his professional future hanging in the balance, Sanders’ ability to learn from these lapses will be vital if he hopes to secure a role in the NFL.
