Shilo Sanders throws a punch and risks his spot with the Bucs — is punishment coming?

In the NFL, every snap matters. But sometimes, one single moment can tip the scale between making the team or getting cut. Shilo Sanders, rookie safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, learned that the hard way. The eldest son of Deion Sanders was ejected from Saturday’s preseason game after throwing a punch at Buffalo Bills tight end Zach Davidson.

The incident happened in the second quarter, when Davidson tried to block Shilo Sanders and ended up grabbing his facemask. Shilo Sanders didn’t hesitate—he responded with a direct punch that got him tossed from the game. Now, he’s facing a possible fine. Although Davidson wasn’t penalized, the NFL has made it clear that it won’t tolerate violence on the field, even in preseason matchups.

Inexcusable ejection

Outlets like Athlonsports highlighted the timing of Shilo Sanders’ ejection. He’s currently fighting for a spot on the Bucs’ final 53-man roster, and the deadline for cuts is this Tuesday. That means Shilo had little room for error. This kind of outburst could seal his fate before the regular season even kicks off.

Here is another angle of the Shilo Sanders ejection. You can see Zach Davidson climb to the facemask, which is what Todd Bowles was arguing to the refs afterwards. pic.twitter.com/XsSuFyT6Kw

— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) August 24, 2025

Shilo Sanders, older brother of Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, joined Tampa as an undrafted free agent after playing at Colorado. His last name draws attention, but in the NFL, that doesn’t guarantee anything. According to ESPN, Shilo Sanders had already committed a pass interference earlier in the same game, adding more red flags to his performance.

Head coach Todd Bowles didn’t mince words. Visibly frustrated, he called Shilo Sanders’ punch “inexcusable” during his postgame press conference, as reported by Pro Football Network. “You can’t throw punches in this league. They’ll catch you every time,” Bowles said, making it clear that discipline matters just as much as talent.

Potential penalties

When it comes to possible fines for Shilo Sanders, the NFL has set recent precedents. Rams safety Tanner Ingle was fined $4,666 for a hit that caused a concussion. Similarly, 49ers tackle Trent Williams was fined $11,817 for punching a Chiefs player. If the league follows that pattern, Shilo could be facing a significant financial penalty.

But beyond the fine, Sanders’ future is what’s really at stake. He’s competing for the fourth safety spot behind Antoine Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith, and Christian Izien. He’s also up against Kaevon Merriweather and Rashad Wisdom—neither of whom have been involved in any incidents. On social media, fans are split: some want Shilo Sanders gone, others defend his reaction as provoked.

The truth is, Shilo Sanders is in the eye of the storm. His name puts him under the spotlight, but his actions have put him on thin ice. That punch might cost Shilo more than just a fine—it could be the hit that knocks him out of his NFL dream.

 

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Una publicación compartida de Shilo Sanders (@shilosanders)