NFL punishes Shilo Sanders for punching Buccaneers player, ejection

Just one week after he was cut from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to the 53-man roster deadline, defensive back Shilo Sanders has been fined $4,669 for throwing a punch at Bills tight end Zach Davidson in the Buccaneers’ final preseason game.

Prior to the ejection, Sanders had recorded just one tackle.

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

Davidson continued blocking Sanders as the play moved elsewhere, but Sanders throwing the punch completely ended the play and his night. In his three preseason games, the Colorado alum recorded four tackles.

“He’s coming along. He’s getting the scheme down,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said about Sanders earlier this month prior to his release. “He’s made plays like everybody else back there. There are a few tests that come up during the preseason – Tuesday night was one, and the other three preseason games and practices will be others. He’s got a chance to make it.”

Shilo did not make the 53-man and will be looking to latch onto an NFL roster at some point this season.

Sanders played for his father, Deion, at Colorado the last two years alongside his brother Shedeur. Shedeur, unlike Shilo, made the Cleveland Browns’ 53-man roster out of camp. The elder Sanders totaled 137 tackles during that time, including three tackles for loss, a sack and an interception. That includes 67 tackles, including two for loss, last season.

He began his career at South Carolina before joining Coach Prime at Jackson State and, eventually, at Colorado.

Deion visited Shilo during Tampa Bay’s training camp

In fact, Deion Sanders visited Bucs training camp prior to his release to check in on how Shilo was performing. Head coach Todd Bowles made it clear the visit was just to see his son as a father, not to meet with the head coach.

“He came to visit his son; he didn’t come to visit me,” Bowles said. “He strictly came to see Shilo. I guarantee you he didn’t come to see me. Not that I don’t like him, but he’s a father going to visit his son. Who wouldn’t be proud to have their son trying out in the NFL?”

Tampa Bay is set to kick things off in Week 1 with a matchup against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 7.

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.