Former Colorado Buffaloes safety Shilo Sanders went undrafted in the 2025 NFL draft. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is aiming to make the cut for the 53-man active roster.
However, for those supporting Sanders, they received a disappointing update from Buccaneers reporter Scott Reynolds. According to Reynolds, Sanders might not have done enough to make the cut despite fellow undrafted rookie safety J.J. Roberts going down with a season-ending injury. Reynolds said:
“Shilo Sanders still has some work to do in practice and in the final preseason game to make the 53-man roster… Sanders is essentially battling Kaevon Merriweather and Rashad Wisdom for the fourth and final safety spot on the roster.
“Sanders looks like a practice squad safety right now and really needs to show up with a big play or two against Buffalo in the preseason finale in order to make his case for inclusion in the 53-man roster.”
Recent projections exclude Shilo Sanders among the likely safeties, listing athletes like J.J. Roberts, Antoine Winfield Jr. and Merriweather as more secure selections. However, it doesn’t mean that Shilo Sanders hasn’t done well in the training camp. He seems to have built the case but is it enough, only time will tell.
Also Read: Analyst Predicts Shilo Sanders’ Being Cut From Bucs Roster While Discussing Future With Franchise
Shilo Sanders made strong impression in preseason game
In his first preseason game, Shilo Sanders rushed Tennessee Titans quarterback Brandon Allen and delivered a large hit after the throw in the Buccaneers’ 29-7 win.
“It felt good,” Sanders said. “Thank you, God, for putting me in position to even be on the field. I feel like I left some big hits on the table. Next game will be some improvement on my angles, on my tracking because you don’t really get to work on it in an NFL practice or you’re gonna get kicked out of practice. Seeing a game for the first time in a long time, did some good things. It is what it is.”
Head coach Todd Bowles and analysts noted his awareness, energy and mental grasp of the game.
“He played tough,” Bowles said. “I thought he went in and did a heck of a job. He had some good tackles inside. He had a pressure on the quarterback as well. He did some good coverage things, so he did a good job when he was in there.”
However, Shilo Sanders struggled in his second preseason game against the Steelers. He logged two tackles but also missed key plays and failed to distinguish himself. This shaky outing may have dimmed his outlook in the eyes of many, including Scott Reynolds.
