Shilo Sanders
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Shilo Sanders attempts a tackle against the Buffalo Bills.
Shilo Sanders had a very costly mistake against the Buffalo Bills — and now it’s gotten even more expensive.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie safety — the son of NFL legend and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders — was thrown out of the team’s preseason finale against the Bills when he threw a punch at tight end Zach Davidson. Sanders was already on the roster bubble going into the game, but the ejection earned him a sharp rebuke from the head coach and a release from the final roster.
The league has now added its own punishment for the incident.
NFL Fines Shilo Sanders
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Aug. 30 that Sanders took a hit to the wallet for the incident against the Bills.
“A real punch: NFL is fining former Buccaneers safety Shilo Sanders $4,669 for punching another player and being ejected from last Saturday night’s preseason game against Buffalo,” Schefter wrote. “Sanders wound up being released shortly after and has not been signed to another NFL team.”
A real punch: NFL is fining former Buccaneers safety Shilo Sanders $4,669 for punching another player and being ejected from last Saturday night’s preseason game against Buffalo. Sanders wound up being released shortly after and has not been signed to another NFL team. pic.twitter.com/s6NFjrN50o
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2025
Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles had some sharp words for Sanders prior to his release.
“You can’t throw punches in this league. I mean, that’s inexcusable,” he said, via USA Today. “They’re going to get you every time. Got to grow from that.”
Sanders had signed with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent, but hinted after he was waived that he could look for a new career outside of football.
“I’ll be talking to my agent and we’re waiting on the next opportunity,” Sanders said, via CBS Sports. “If that’s in the NFL, cool, but God has blessed me with a lot of talent to do things other than football.”
Sanders added that he was hoping to take some lessons from his abrupt exit from Tampa.
“I feel like this is just part of my story to grow and do bigger and better things,” Sanders said. “Whether it’s finding another team, whether it’s getting another opportunity in the NFL, it is what it is. My time being with the Buccaneers has been nothing but great. The city, my teammates, my coaches, everybody has poured in love and support toward me and I’ll be forever grateful for that.”
Sanders has yet to sign with another NFL team, and may not need to pay his fine if he remains out of the league.
Zach Davidson Also Missed Roster
Davidson had taken some criticism for his role in the incident with Sanders. The Bills tight end continued to block Sanders far from the play and after the whistle had blown, with replay showing he appeared to grab Sanders’ facemask before the punch.
Davidson was not flagged or fined, but did reach the end of the line on his time in Buffalo. After spending parts of the previous three seasons on the practice squad, Davidson was released at final cuts.
The Bills instead opted to keep rookie Jackson Hawes as the third tight end behind Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid, with undrafted rookie Keleki Latu on the practice squad as a developmental project. Davidson has yet to find a new NFL team.