Shilo Sanders’ NFL Debut: A Promising Start for Buccaneers’ Safety

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie safety Shilo Sanders made a notable NFL preseason debut against the Tennessee Titans, showcasing his skills despite being overshadowed by his famous family members, brother Shedeur and father Deion. On Saturday night, Sanders proved he’s more than just a familiar name, delivering a crucial quarterback hit and recording a solo tackle in the Bucs’ 29-7 win.

Some key highlights from his performance include

•  Key Play: Sanders blitzed untouched from the secondary, driving Titans quarterback Brandon Allen to the ground just after he released the ball, disrupting a potential passing play.
• Tackling/Covering: He finished the game with one solo tackle while being targeted zero times in pass coverage. This demonstrates his ability to make plays on the field and the respest he commands in coverage.
•  Post-Game: Sanders seemed pleased with his debut, joking that he’d send his game jersey to his mom instead of his dad, saying Deion would only want it if Shilo got “three picks or something

Sanders played 37 snaps, including 23 in coverage, with zero targets. He also added a quarterback hit and a tackle.

Via ESPN’s Jenna Laine, “Rookie safety Shilo Sanders delivered multiple big hits, including one on Brandon Allen on a blitz.”

Sanders on his play Saturday against the Titans via The Associated Press,

“It felt good. Thank you, God, for putting me in position to even be on the field. I feel like I left some big hits on the table. Next game will be some improvement on my angles, on my tracking because you don’t really get to work on it in an NFL practice or you’re gonna get kicked out of practice. Seeing a game for the first time in a long time, did some good things. It is what it is.”

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With no guarantees on his roster spot, Shilo Sanders needs to seize every preseason opportunity to make a lasting impression.

Sanders was projected by some to be a potential fifth-round draft pick, but he went undrafted in the 2025 NFL draft. Despite this setback, the Buccaneers signed him to an undrafted free agent contract shortly after the draft.

Sanders will need to demonstrate his ability to be in the right place at the right time and consistently execute his defensive responsibilities. Under the watchful eye of defensive-minded Head Coach Todd Bowles, Sanders will be under pressure to show he can deliver in key areas of his game to earn a spot on the roster.

Sanders got off to a promising start, but he’ll need to keep the momentum going to solidify his chances.