Buccaneers cut rookie free agent safety Shilo Sanders

Field Level Media|published: Sun 24th August, 13:02 2025

NFL: Buffalo Bills at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Aug 23, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Jackson Hawes (85) runs past Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Shilo Sanders (28) in the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

One day after being ejected from an NFL exhibition game for punching an opponent, rookie free agent safety Shilo Sanders was cut on Sunday by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Buccaneers, like all NFL teams, must reduce their rosters to 53 players by Tuesday afternoon in preparation for Week 1 play on Sept. 4-8. Sanders, listed as a third-string safety on the team's depth chart, contributed four solo tackles during exhibition play.

The 25-year-old Sanders was thrown out of Saturday's preseason game against the Buffalo Bills when he punched tight end Zach Davidson at the end of a second-quarter play when Davidson was blocking him downfield.

Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said afterward: "You can't throw punches in this league. That's inexcusable. They're going to get you every time. Gotta grow from that."

During six college football seasons -- two at South Carolina, two at Jackson State and two at Colorado -- Sanders appeared in 52 games with 33 starts. He amassed 217 tackles, six interceptions and five forced fumbles. Shilo played for his father, Deion Sanders, at Jackson State and Colorado.

--Field Level Media