Buccaneers make final roster decision on Shilo Sanders

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wrapped up their preseason slate with a 23-19 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night, and while the outcome itself won’t be remembered for long, the roster implications already are. 

By Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, all 32 NFL teams must trim to the 53-man limit, and Tampa Bay wasted little time starting that process on Sunday.

Among the most notable moves was the release of undrafted rookie safety Shilo Sanders, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Sanders, the son of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, signed with the Buccaneers in April with hopes of carving out a role on special teams and providing depth in the defensive backfield. Instead, his opportunity ended abruptly following an ejection in Saturday’s exhibition finale.

Sanders was tossed in the second quarter after throwing a punch at Bills tight end Zach Davidson. Bucs Head coach Todd Bowles did not mince words postgame, calling the infraction “inexcusable” and emphasizing that such lapses won’t be tolerated at the professional level. The incident overshadowed what had been a quiet preseason. Sanders finished with three tackles across three appearances, though he did flash once with a quarterback hit against Tennessee.

The Buccaneers move forward with five safeties—Antoine Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith, Christian Izien, Kaevon Merriweather, and Rashad Wisdom—while Sanders’ camp now hopes for a waiver claim. A practice squad landing spot isn’t out of the question, though Tampa Bay may not be the likeliest destination.

Off the field, Sanders faces a heavier challenge. At 25, he remains embroiled in a bankruptcy case tied to an $11.89 million judgment stemming from a 2015 altercation with a former school security guard, John Darjean. Sanders was found liable in civil court after failing to appear for trial in 2022, leading to a default ruling. He filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2023 in hopes of discharging the debt, though Darjean has argued in court that the damages are nondischargeable because they stem from a “willful and malicious” injury.

A bankruptcy judge is expected to rule later this year, with Sanders’ financial future—and potentially any NFL earnings—hanging in the balance. If Darjean prevails, he could pursue wage garnishment should Sanders land another contract in the league.

For now, Sanders’ next football step remains uncertain. He produced solid numbers during his senior season at Colorado, recording 67 tackles and a defensive touchdown, but his NFL entry has been rocky. Whether another team is willing to take a chance on him will soon become clear as final cuts are announced across the league.