Shilo Sanders has had a tough year, dating back to an off-field offseason injury that hampered the former Colorado Buffalo’s final collegiate season. It got tougher on Sunday, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cut him, costing the franchise just $1,572. As FOX Sports’ Greg Auman noted, that’s an unusually low guarantee that Tampa Bay paid out.
After Sanders had hope at the beginning of the offseason, even talking about a leadership role, Coach Prime’s middle son crashed out hard during the Bucs’ preseason finale. Sanders punched Buffalo Bills tight end Zach Davidson right in front of a referee and was ejected on Saturday night, just hours before his release.
It may not be all doom and gloom, though. This may not be the end of Shilo’s pursuit of a professional football career.
USA Today’s Brent Schrotenboer believes returning to Tampa or finding an NFL career elsewhere is still in the cards.
“Sanders, 25, didn’t get selected in the NFL draft in April but signed with the team as an undrafted free agent soon afterward. He was listed as a third-string safety before Saturday's preseason game,” Schrotenboer wrote.
“But his NFL hopes are still alive. He could get signed to the team’s practice squad Wednesday. Or he could catch on with another team that’s a better fit.”
Todd Bowles sounded frustrated with Shilo’s impulsiveness, but he’s been a proponent of the 25-year-old all summer. The kind of mistakes Sanders tends to make, coupled with the potential he possesses as an active tackler and locker room hype leader, make him a perfect practice squad dice roll.
If nothing else, a team will have more intense practices with Sanders around. Anyone who has an issue in that department can do far worse than Shilo as a low-cost flier.