Shilo Sanders waived by Buccaneers after ejection and league fine

Shilo Sanders was waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, days after he was ejected from the team’s preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills for throwing a punch, leaving the 25 year old safety’s NFL future uncertain. The league has since fined Sanders $4,669 for the incident, and he was not claimed on waivers, remaining a free agent as teams finalized 53 man rosters ahead of the regular season.

The altercation occurred in the second quarter of the exhibition game when Sanders, who had been engaged by Bills tight end Zach Davidson, threw a punch and was immediately disqualified. Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles condemned the action, saying, "You can’t throw punches in this league. That’s inexcusable. They’re going to get you every time. You’ve got to grow from that." The swift ejection came after a training camp in which Bowles had earlier praised Sanders’ energy and special teams potential.

The Buccaneers moved quickly in the days after the game, trimming their roster and leaving no place for the undrafted rookie. Sanders signed with Tampa Bay after the 2025 draft and appeared in three preseason games, recording four solo tackles. Team officials elected to prioritize other...