Four weeks into the NFL season, Shilo Sanders is still searching for a second chance in the league after being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during final roster cuts.
Sanders quickly became a fan favorite in Tampa Bay and did all the right things off the field, but he couldn’t separate himself once the pads came on. He struggled throughout the preseason, plagued by missed tackles and a lack of splash plays in coverage. Even as injuries in the secondary seemed to open a door for him to sneak onto the roster, the Buccaneers let him go and didn’t bring him back to the practice squad.
His most memorable moment in red and pewter was his infamous ejection in the preseason finale after throwing a punch at Buffalo Bills tight end Zach Davidson, which ultimately proved to be the final nail in the coffin for his Bucs stint. But despite the rocky ending, Sanders left an overall favorable impression inside the organization.
“We’re told that the Buccaneers enjoyed having Shilo in the building, viewing the son of Deion Sanders as a good kid who was at all times respectful to everyone. Shilo was also immediately remorseful following the incident that disqualified him from the second quarter of the game against the Bills,” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported.
Now, Sanders is finally getting another look in the NFL and could have a chance to resurrect his career.
49ers bring in ex-Buc Shilo Sanders for workout
The San Francisco 49ers hosted Sanders for a workout this week, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. San Francisco is exploring options at safety and could see the 24-year-old as a potential depth piece.
Sanders’ father, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, spent one season with the 49ers in 1994, leading the league with six interceptions — including three pick-sixes — on his way to First-Team All-Pro honors, Defensive Player of the Year, and a Super Bowl XXIX title.
Now, his son is hoping to follow in those footsteps and revive his NFL dreams in San Francisco. While no immediate signing was made, Sanders is firmly on the 49ers’ radar.
The Buccaneers face the 49ers in Tampa Bay in Week 6. If Sanders does land with San Francisco, it could set up a storybook opportunity to return to Raymond James Stadium with a chip on his shoulder and prove the Bucs wrong for giving up on him.