Shilo Sanders Waived by Buccaneers After Preseason Ejection – What This Means for His NFL Future

Shilo Sanders Waived by Tampa Bay Buccaneers After Preseason Ejection

Undrafted Rookie Safety Cut Following Punch in Bills Game

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived undrafted rookie safety Shilo Sanders on August 24, 2025, less than 24 hours after he was ejected for throwing a punch during their preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills.

The Ejection

Sanders was ejected from the August 23 game after throwing a punch at Bills tight end Zach Davidson during a physical altercation. Head coach Todd Bowles addressed the incident postgame, stating: “You can’t throw punches in this league. It’s inexcusable. They’re gonna get you every time. You gotta grow from that.”

Roster Cuts and Release

NFL teams were required to trim their rosters to 53 players by early Tuesday ahead of the regular season. Sanders, who was competing as a third-string safety, had shown limited impact in earlier preseason games. The Buccaneers chose not to retain him during the mandatory roster cuts.

Sanders’ Status

Sanders is now eligible to be claimed off waivers by other NFL teams. If he clears waivers unclaimed, he could potentially return to the Buccaneers’ practice squad, which is a common path for undrafted players seeking to develop and eventually make an active roster.

Background

Sanders entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent and was fighting for a roster spot on Tampa Bay’s depth chart. The timing of his ejection during the final preseason game proved critical, as teams were making final evaluations for their regular season rosters.