The last preseason game is a player’s last opportunity to make an impression. For Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Shilo Sanders, he made an impression he did not want to. A moment of losing his head resulted in having to leave the game early. He also earned a nice earful from his head coach.
After the Buccaneers’ 23-19 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, head coach Todd Bowles addressed the media regarding Sanders’ ejection in the second quarter. Sanders was ejected after retaliating by throwing a punch at Buffalo player Zach Davidson. Bowles despised the action and emphasized a lack of discipline.
“Well, you can’t throw punches in this league. That’s inexcusable,” Bowles stated firmly.
“They’re going to get you every time. You’ve got to grow from that.”
There is no room for that on a professional football team, especially from a player whose spot on the team is hardly a guarantee.
The play in question was on a run play that had long been over. Davidson continued to block Sanders down the field. Davidson’s block was physical because he had his hands in the helmet area, with Sanders having no chance to play the ball.
Sanders reacted in an unwise manner, believing he should respond to Davidson’s continued actions after the whistle. He certainly made a poor decision by throwing a punch. The officials did not miss his punch and threw the flag, and Sanders’ night was over.
Shilo Sanders’ Roster Hopes Hang in the Balance
Shilo Sanders is now fighting to earn a spot in a safety room with a lot of competition. For undrafted free agents, making the final 53-man roster, is a daunting task. A error in judgement like this does not help his chances.
The timing could not be worse. With final roster cuts on the horizon, this one mistake could be bigger than all of his work in training camp and through the preseason.
Sanders has shown flashes of talent during the preseason. He has been involved on both special teams and defense which is essential for a depth player. He logged four total tackles and a quarterback hit through three exhibition games.
It will be interesting to see if Sanders can redeem himself from this as the Buccaneers decide on their final roster ahead of the new season.
Read More:
- “Looks Like a Practice Squad Safety”: Insider Shares Blunt Opinion on Shilo Sanders’ Chances of Making It to Bucs’ 53-Man Roster
- Top 3 Destinations For Shilo Sanders As Coach Prime’s Son Faces Uphill Battle In Making Tampa Bay’s 53-Man Roster Ft. the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Could the Denver Broncos Be Shilo Sanders’ Next Stop? Assessing Deion Sanders’ Son’s Future Amid Bucs Cut Buzz
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