Shilo Sanders Waived by Buccaneers After Punching Bills Player

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have cut ties with rookie safety Shilo Sanders less than 24 hours after he was ejected from a preseason game for throwing a punch at a Buffalo Bills player.

The altercation occurred on Saturday, August 23, 2025, during Tampa Bay’s preseason finale against the Bills. Sanders, the 25-year-old son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, threw a punch at tight end Zach Davidson after a heated exchange at the line of scrimmage. The punch led to an immediate ejection and quickly drew criticism from Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles, who labeled the act “inexcusable.”

Footage from the game showed Davidson’s fingers caught in Sanders’ facemask just before the scuffle, but the rookie’s retaliation sealed his fate in what was already a tight roster battle.

On Sunday morning, August 24, the Buccaneers officially announced that Sanders had been waived as the team worked to finalize its 53-man roster ahead of the regular season. The move ended his brief stint in Tampa Bay, where he had signed earlier this year as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft.

Sanders’ agents, Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey, expressed hope that another team might claim him off waivers, emphasizing his potential despite the setback.

Before joining the Buccaneers, Sanders played college football at both South Carolina and Colorado, following his father’s coaching path. Known for his physicality and coverage skills, he entered the NFL with aspirations of carving out a role on special teams and as a depth safety.