When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cut safety Shilo Sanders over the weekend, there was a belief that he would stick around and land on the team's practice squad after the initial 53-man roster was finalized.
But as Tampa began trimming down to 53 and finalizing its 16-player practice squad, Sanders' name was noticeably absent.
Instead, the Bucs signed another rookie safety who had been one of the Carolina Panthers' final cuts, seemingly sending a message that the team had officially moved on from Sanders.
"Bucs are signing rookie safety Jack Henderson, just cut by the Panthers, to their practice squad," Fox Sports' Greg Auman wrote on X. "Finished his college career at Minnesota -- six sacks, nine TFLs last season. Three years at Southeastern Louisiana (six INTs) before that.
"The Henderson signing means the Bucs are not bringing back rookie safety Shilo Sanders, who was among their cuts to get down to 53," Auman added.
Sanders had a solid showing for the Bucs during the preseason, totaling 83 defensive snaps, 46 coverage snaps, four tackles, one QB pressure, one reception for eight yards allowed in coverage, per Pro Football Focus.
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It's possible other teams thin in the secondary reach out to the 25-year-old safety offering a spot on their practice squad, or it's possible Sanders looks to continue his career outside of the NFL.
The Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League announced on Sunday that they acquired Sanders' CFL negotiating rights. Toronto also has the CFL rights to Sanders' brother Shedeur, who made the Cleveland Browns' 53-man roster.
While not being offered a practice squad spot anywhere would be disappointing for the former Colorado safety, Sanders' dad Deion Sanders recently hinted to reporters if the NFL isn't in the cards in 2025, his son has a backup plan.
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"I prepared my kids for any and everything that could possibly happen in life and in sports," Deion said, via ESPN. "That's part of fathering, that's part of parenting, that's part of having a relationship. So he is mentally where he needs to be, physically where he needs to be.
"We're praying that he gets another opportunity to go with a team, but if he doesn't, the plans have already been put forward to what he's going to do next."
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