Buccaneers safety Shilo Sanders was ejected from Tampa Bay’s final 2025 preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. Halfway through the second quarter, Sanders locked up with Bills tight end Zach Davidson at the end of a play and took a swing at Davidson in full view of the officials, who quickly flagged Sanders for a personal foul. The penalty disqualified Sanders for the rest of the game.
Showing poor judgment and a lack of discipline in a high-leverage situation is exactly what Sanders did not need. He is already facing an uphill battle to make Tampa Bay’s final 53-man roster. He has not made a strong case to overcome Kaevon Merriweather or Rashad Wisdom as backup to Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith. Even the season-ending injury to J.J. Roberts did not improve Sanders’ chances of making the regular season roster.
Sanders has a shot at making the Bucs’ practice squad, but the ejection may even hurt his chances at that. Sanders’ inability to distinguish himself as a playmaker diminishes the patience Todd Bowles and his coaching staff are likely to have with him.
With Sanders out, an already thin Bucs safety position is now down to just Merriweather and Wisdom in their preseason finale. Winfield Jr. and Smith were not active for the game, so any injuries might press some of Tampa Bay’s cornerbacks to play expanded roles in the second half.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs safety Shilo Sanders ejected from Bucs final preseason game
Reporting by Jason Kanno, Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
