Shilo Sanders Punch Zach Davidson
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Shilo Sanders was ejected from his final NFL preseason game of his rookie season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Head coach Todd Bowles called his behavior “inexcusable.”
However, the second-eldest son of Deion Sanders only threw a punch in retaliation.
Zach Davidson was the instigator. NFL officials chose not to call a penalty on the Buffalo Bills tight end.
Shilo Sanders fought back.
The unfortunate incident took place during the first half. Sanders was lined up at safety on a run play.
Davidson, a fifth-year player on his second team, got down field to block the safety. The Bills ball-carrier was wrapped all-but up in the backfield by the time he got to the third level.
He actually missed his assignment at first.
The 6-foot-7, 251-pound tight end circled back to get his hands on the 6-foot-0, 196-pound rookie. Davidson put his hands on Sanders and locked him up.
In doing so, he latched on to the facemask of his opponent.
Sanders did not appreciate the way Davidson grabbed him so he swung. The official was standing right there to call a penalty, which led to an ejection for fighting.
Here is the play that got Shilo Sanders ejected. pic.twitter.com/7LRplnywzo
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) August 24, 2025
Here is another look at what happened:
Here is another angle of the Shilo Sanders ejection. You can see Zach Davidson climb to the facemask, which is what Todd Bowles was arguing to the refs afterwards. pic.twitter.com/XsSuFyT6Kw
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) August 24, 2025
Davidson very clearly grabbed Sanders’ facemask before the punch. He started it.
And not only did he start it, Davidson proceeded to taunt Sanders after the flag was thrown with a “too small” gesture.
You can’t throw a punch in the NFL.
Shilo Sanders was completely valid in his retaliation but that does not excuse his behavior.
“You can’t throw punches in this league,” said Bowles. “That’s inexcusable. They’re going to get you every time. Gotta grow from that.”
Coach Bowles is absolutely correct. The official did his job properly. Sanders cannot swing.
With that being said, I struggle to understand why Zach Davidson did not also receive a penalty for hands to the face, unnecessary roughness or unsportsmanlike conduct. He claims no fault. I disagree.
Zach Davidson was one of the stars of night here in Tampa. He explained the altercation with Shiloh Sanders and his fill-in punter performance. pic.twitter.com/hp919kkPzx
— Matt Parrino (@MattParrino) August 24, 2025
Perhaps the referees did not see how it actually went down and saw only the punch. Still, though, Davidson deserved to be penalized alongside Sanders. Not ejected, but flagged.
I also do not understand why the referee allowed Davidson to taunt Sanders after the penalty. That, too, should be a penalty by rule.
Grayson Weir BroBible editor avatar