Buccaneers Waive Rookie Shilo Sanders Following Ejection

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have waived rookie safety Shilo Sanders, according to his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey. This decision comes just one day after Sanders was ejected from a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills for throwing a punch during the match. The Buccaneers are currently finalizing their rosters, with a deadline set for Tuesday to trim down to 53 players.

The incident occurred on Saturday night during the Buccaneers’ third preseason game. Sanders was involved in a scuffle where he punched tight end Zach Davidson after a series of aggressive plays. This altercation drew attention as Tampa Bay linebacker John Bullock attempted to intervene. Head Coach Todd Bowles addressed the situation following the Buccaneers’ 23-19 loss, stating, “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.”

This was not Sanders’ only penalty in the game; he was flagged for defensive pass interference in the first quarter. The rookie had been competing for the final safety spot on the team alongside Kaevon Merriweather and Rashad Wisdom, who are vying to back up established players such as Antoine Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith, and Christian Izien.

Sanders, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, signed with the Buccaneers after going undrafted in the most recent NFL Draft. His departure marks a significant moment in Tampa Bay’s roster decisions as they prepare for the upcoming season.

As of now, Sanders’ agents hope that he will be claimed off waivers by another team. The NFL continues to undergo roster adjustments as teams finalize their line-ups ahead of the regular season.