It appears Shilo Sanders’ chances of returning to the NFL may be slipping away. The Buccaneers had an opportunity to bring him back, but instead opted for another player.

On Tuesday, Tampa Bay signed Marcus Banks to its practice squad, per Jordan Schultz. Banks had been with the team earlier this year but was released due to a quad injury.

Will Shilo Sanders return to the NFL?

When Shilo Sanders was released by the Buccaneers, many expected he would quickly find another opportunity in the league. However, as time passes, the safety remains unsigned.

According to reports, Shilo’s attitude has been a key factor in why teams have stayed away. He was a solid player at Colorado, but concerns about his mindset — similar to the questions surrounding his brother Shedeur — have reportedly raised red flags.

After his release, Shilo expressed that he wanted to return to the NFL, but also mentioned he would consider pursuing careers in acting, modeling, or singing if football didn’t work out. That openness has led some to believe that the sport may not be his top priority.

On Wednesday, after waivers were processed, the Patriots decided to bolster their defense by signing John Saunders, who had been on the Dolphins’ practice squad.

With Shilo Sanders still available as a free agent, this move surprised many. Teams continue to sign safeties week after week, yet the former Colorado Buffaloes standout has not received another opportunity to return to the league.

Why are all teams overlooking Shilo Sanders?

Before the 2025 NFL season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to release Shilo Sanders. He didn’t have a great preseason, but many believed he would make the team’s final 53-man roster.

When Sanders was cut, he immediately became a free agent. The safety has said multiple times that he wants to return to the NFL, but no team has offered him a chance so far.

Reports suggest that Shilo’s attitude was a major concern for the Buccaneers—similar to the questions surrounding his brother Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland. Additionally, scouts didn’t give Shilo high grades as a safety, which has led teams to believe there are stronger options available on the market.

Shilo Sanders isn’t helping his case

After being released by Tampa Bay, Shilo Sanders said that while he hopes to return to the NFL, he also has other options, including music, acting, and modeling, if his football career doesn’t continue.

Since then, he’s been very active on social media. He even impersonated his brother Shedeur during a Browns game—an act that may not have been well received by NFL teams, as it suggests he might not be taking his return to football as seriously as he claims.

At the end of the 2025 NFL preseason, the Buccaneers decided to part ways with Shilo Sanders. Around the same time, he was fined $4,669 by the league for throwing a punch at Buffalo Bills tight end Zach Davidson, adding another problem to his situation.

Sanders has yet to find a new team. Now, he has made a surprising revelation about his finances following a lighthearted exchange with some fans.

Shilo Sanders gets brutally honest about his finances with a message for brother Shedeur

Shilo Sanders’ NFL journey hasn’t started as he hoped. After going undrafted in 2025, the Buccaneers gave him an opportunity to prove himself during the preseason. However, he failed to make the 53-man roster and was released before the regular season began.

The fine turned out to be larger than what Shilo earned with the Buccaneers, leaving him in a difficult financial position. Jokingly, the safety admitted that his money situation isn’t as good as his brother Shedeur’s.

In a video posted on X, Shilo is seen being asked for money by a group of kids. “I just got cut from the NFL. Bro, I don’t got no money,” he says. “You gotta go ask Shedeur. If I get back to the league, I got you.”

Is Shilo Sanders returning to the NFL?

As of now, there are no reports linking Shilo Sanders to another NFL team. While several clubs have added safeties in recent weeks, the former Colorado standout hasn’t been considered by any franchise.

Still, there’s time for Shilo to make a comeback. However, if an NFL opportunity doesn’t arrive soon, a move to the Canadian Football League (CFL) could be his best chance to showcase his talent and reignite his professional career.

The Washington Commanders needed safety help and naturally, people started to wonder if Shilo Sanders would get the call. However, the team decided to sign a former player of the Jacksonville Jaguars instead of him.

The Commanders, as reported by Ari Meirov, are signing Darnell Savage, who was released by the Jaguars last week. Savage is in his seventh season after spending five seasons in the Packers and playing the 2024 season with Jacksonville, as well as the start of this season.

Shilo Sanders, then, is still looking for a team to give him a chance after he was waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to the start of the regular season. Sanders has been waiting for another chance to play in the NFL.

Savage is good safety, Shilo is an experiment

Savage has 38 pass deflections and 10 interceptions in his career with two forced fumbles. His best season was back in 2020 where he had four picks and 12 passes defended. If he signs for the Commanders and can regain some of that fire, he will be a valuable assett.

Savage is a proven commodity. On the other hand, Shilo is an undrafted rookie that has never played in the NFL and that already sent some alarming issues given the fact that he was ejected from a preseason game for throwing a punch.

The Commanders needed depth at safety

The Commanders have Will Harris and Quan Martin as the starting safeties. Then, Tyler Owens and Jeremy Reaves serve as backups. If all goes well, Savage could turn into an actual starter on this roster.

Dan Quinn is a defensive head coach and the Commanders are not a great defense yet. They have improved their pass rush, but also have been burned on their secondary. Hence, Savage could become a very important piece of this defense.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still doing moves on their roster. However, this time they’re doing it with familiar faces. Shilo Sanders was one of the players waived by the team but they are trying out another mediatic player who didn’t make the final roster.

On Friday, Bucs tried out defensive tackle Desmond Watson. An undrafted free agent, Watson participated in the offseason program but did separate work as he had an overweight problem.

The Bucs incentivized Watson to get into football shape but he wasn’t able to do so. However, the team never closed the door on his return. Watson weighed 464 pounds at the Florida Pro Day. If he is signed by the team, he could play in Week 4 vs. the Eagles. As for Shilo Sanders, it seems like the Buccaneers are not looking to bring him back.

Watson could become a key part of the Bucs’ success

The team to beat in the NFC is Philadelphia. The Eagles are the reigning champs and the Bucs are called to be one of those teams to challenge them. One of the most difficult things to stop when facing the Eagles is the tush push. That’s when Watson could become crucial.

The tush push consists in a modified QB sneak, where the team literally pushes forward, sending Jalen Hurts a few yards ahead. If a monster like Watson, paired with another huge presence like Vita Vea, are waiting, Philadelphia could have way too many problems trying to push them. That is key to stopping their offense.

The Bucs have a top-tier defense

Coached by Todd Bowles, the Buccaneers defensive line is an aggressive one. Their linebackers are very talented and their secondary is very good at blitzing as well. They are a heck of a unit.

Bowles has also designed a scheme that’s also very versatile. In fact, if Watson does get signed, it’s likely his only snaps would be in tush push situations. As for the rest, the Bucs are stacked and ready to defend all kinds of plays.

Prior to the 2025 NFL season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to release Shilo Sanders. He is currently a free agent, waiting for another opportunity to play in the league.

A few days ago, the Chargers lost Khalil Mack and placed him on IR, meaning he will miss at least four games. To fill the gap, the AFC West club strengthened its defense by signing a new safety—though it was not Shilo Sanders.

Who is the new safety that the Chargers signed for Week 3?

In Week 2, Khalil Mack suffered an elbow injury that will require at least four weeks of recovery. The team does not expect him to miss more games, but it is undoubtedly a significant loss for the Chargers.

With Mack on injured reserve, a spot opened up on the 53-man roster. Head coach Jim Harbaugh chose not to sign another linebacker and instead decided to add a safety.

Even though Shilo Sanders was available, the Chargers went in a different direction. On Thursday, Los Angeles signed safety Tony Jefferson to their active roster to fill the spot vacated by Mack.

Tony Jefferson is a 33-year-old veteran safety who entered the league in 2013 as an undrafted player. He has played for the Cardinals, Ravens, 49ers, Giants, and Chargers, with his most successful stint coming in Baltimore.

Jefferson joined Los Angeles in 2024 and has since been signed and released multiple times. He has yet to secure a permanent spot on the 53-man roster, but this presents a good opportunity for him to prove his value.

Why is no team signing Shilo Sanders?

When the Buccaneers released Shilo Sanders, many fans expected him to sign with another team, possibly even joining his brother Shedeur at the Browns. However, he remains a free agent despite several teams needing a safety.

According to reports, Sanders’ attitude and mindset have made teams hesitant to sign him. Additionally, going undrafted in 2025 does not help his case, leaving him without a team for now.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one of those teams called to be protagonists this NFL season. They made headlines before the start of it by waiving Shilo Sanders, but now, a Baker Mayfield teammate has opened up about accepting a paycut to stay the team that saw him win a Super Bowl.

Jamel Dean is entering his eighth season in the NFL and has played every single one of them with the Buccaneers. Dean took an $8 million paycut that saw his salary go from $12.5 million to $4.5 million in 2025. That is insane to see as the norm says you look for bigger paychecks instead of cutting your salary by more than 50%.

However, for Dean it was simple. Speaking to the Tampa Bay Times, he said, “It was just more like I’m comfortable here… So it’s just really not about the money anymore. I’m not in the mood to try to figure out a whole new team and city and go through all I went through my rookie year. So just to save me a headache.” Pragmatism at its best.

Jamel Dean is a staple on this defense

Jamel Dean has been a constant on this defense. He won the Super Bowl in 2020 and has been a starter on this team for the last four years. Dean has also been pretty good. Shilo Sanders might not join him in the secondary, but the cornerback is the one constant on the secondary.

Dean has a career 58.5% completion percentage allowed. He has allowed a passer rating of 81.8 during his career. Dean is only 28 years old so he is still in his prime, at a premium value.

The Bucs need a tough defense

Baker Mayfield and the team’s offense is one of the best in the NFL, but the saying goes “defense wins championship.” Tampa Bay was the fourth-worst passing defense last year, and if that doesn’t get better, it’s tough to win it all.

To win the Super Bowl, the Buccaneers will need to have a tough defense and keep their form on offense. In Week 1, they allowed Michael Penix Jr. to throw for 298 yards and one touchdown and a 93.2 passer rating.

Shilo Sanders is still waiting for an opportunity, but no club has shown real interest in signing him. Despite having a vacancy, the Steelers opted for a different—and likely more reliable—option.

On Tuesday, Pittsburgh announced the signing of Jabrill Peppers. The seasoned safety is expected to strengthen the defense and help the team compete for the AFC North title this year.

Steelers’ Mike Tomlin signs Jabrill Peppers, snubs Shilo Sanders

The Steelers already boast one of the most solid defenses in the NFL, and now it looks even stronger. By signing Jabrill Peppers, Pittsburgh adds a veteran presence with valuable experience.

Although Shilo Sanders is a younger alternative, Tomlin preferred the security of an experienced safety. Sanders had been loosely linked to Pittsburgh after the Buccaneers released him, but the team ultimately chose Peppers instead.

Peppers, a 29-year-old safety, has experienced a roller-coaster year. Earlier in 2025, he signed a 3-year, $24 million extension with the Patriots, but he was surprisingly released on August 29.

According to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, Peppers and the Steelers have already agreed to a deal, though the terms have yet to be disclosed.

Why did the Steelers sign Jabrill Peppers?

The decision was influenced by injuries. Safety DeShon Elliott is expected to miss a few weeks with an MCL sprain. While the injury isn’t considered serious, Pittsburgh needed to add depth at the position.

The Steelers hope Elliott will return by Week 4 when they travel to Ireland to face the Vikings. If he’s not ready, Peppers provides a dependable option to cover his absence.

If Sharpe didn’t like what Tampa Bay did with Shilo, he liked what the Browns did even less in the first game of the year by using veteran QB Joe Flacco. “I don’t know why y’all fooling with Joe Flacco,” Sharpe said, in reference to the franchise’s decision to use Flacco and instead of rookies Sanders and Gabriel.

“Y’all know Joe Flacco’s not taking y’all anywhere. He is not your quarterback of the future. If I’m going to lose, I’m going to lose trying to find out who my quarterback is. That’s just me. I don’t care if it’s Gabriel, I don’t care if it’s Shedeur,” Sharpe said on his Nightcap podcast.

Flacco Didn’t Have a Bad Game Despite Sharpe’s Complaint

It’s true that Sanders and Gabriel were not starters in the first game of the season, where the Browns lost 17-16 against the Bengals. But Flacco didn’t play badly; he just had some bad luck. However, according to Sharpe, he would not be the right man for the job.

Sharpe’s proposal is to use the rookies, who have no experience, instead of a quarterback who is a veteran of the offensive line like Flacco, who knows all kinds of tricks and, besides being a Super Bowl champion, played under John Harbaugh.

After his first game of the season with the Browns, Flacco said, “That’s football. I’m wishing I threw it a little bit better…we’re all going home tonight and trying to sleep with that on our chest,” after throwing for 290 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

It is likely that at some point in the season, the Browns will give Gabriel and Shedeur an opportunity, just as Sharpe requested, but that remains to be seen. Other TV personalities also believe Shedeur could be good as a starter, including Skip Bayless, who said, “If Shedeur had started yesterday (Week 1 game) for the Browns, they would’ve beaten the Bengals.”

Shilo Sanders is no longer an NFL player after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cut him before the 53-man roster deadline. One of the key moments that might have led to his release was a punch he threw in the preseason. That punch costed him an ejection, a fine, and subsequently might have played a part in his release. Week 1 saw a couple of incidents, but no fines or ejections were made, which prompted fans to criticize the NFL.

One user said, “What’s crazy is that Tart slapped/punched Kelce, he didn’t get ejected. Shilo Sanders punches someone he gets ejected then released. So, what is the standard?.” Another fan came up with a theory: “Remember Shilo Sanders was kicked off the team and fined for less, and now possibly blackballed.”

It’s all coming from a Travis Kelce skirmish during the Kansas City Chiefs’ Friday night loss against the Los Angeles Chargers. Kelce and Teair Tart went at it, with the defensive tackle slapping the tight end—and later mocking Kelce with a Taylor Swift reference. After a flag was called, the game kept going, with no ejection or further fines post-game (yet). It was a whole different reaction from the referees in comparison to Shilo Sanders’ ejection.

A Week 1 incident should matter more than a preseason game

Understandably, some people are outraged. As a whole, a Week 1 game is way more meaningful than a preseason game. Hence, it calls into question how rigurous the NFL refs should be. “Didn’t Shilo Sanders get ejected for the same thing?,” a user wrote, surprised with how irregular refereeing actions could be.

Another fan even said the NFL should apologize to Shilo Sanders. “NFL owes Shilo Sanders an apology. Go back and watch the reverse angle of his ‘punch’. It was open handed and less of a wind up than Tart on Kelce. TE for Buffalo barely moves from the contact. Tart folded Kelce back like a folding chair. Got Sanders ejected, suspended, and cut.“

Is Shilo Sanders getting another chance in the NFL?

Sanders has been rumored to be in the eye of some NFL franchises after not going back to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad. The Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers have been marked as potential destinations. However, nothing has materialized yet.

The NFL is a contact sport so, eventually, injuries could hamper a secondary and that’s where Sanders could get another chance. He needs to stay fit, healthy, focused and ready to go if someone calls him.

The future of Shilo Sanders remains uncertain. After the last preseason game, the safety was cut by the Buccaneers, unable to convince HC Todd Bowles to give him a spot on the final roster with his performances.

Now, after going unclaimed on waivers, Shilo Sanders is a free agent. While he has not given any hints on a potential return, he has emerged as a viable option for two historic franchises: the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Cowboys and Steelers could target Shilo Sanders after Bucs cut

The 2025 NFL season is already underway, and the Cowboys struggled in their opener. While the offense performed better than expected, the defense had difficulty containing the Eagles’ powerful attack.

Donovan Wilson had a disappointing game against Philadelphia, registering just one assisted tackle. Malik Hooker, a 1st-round pick in 2017, had a stronger showing with a total of nine tackles in Week 1.

However, depth remains a concern. Juanyeh Thomas and Marquese Bell are the next options, which makes Shilo Sanders a sensible addition to the Cowboys’ secondary.

For the Steelers, the departure of Minkah Fitzpatrick left a significant gap. They signed veteran Juan Thornhill this offseason, but he struggled during his tenure with the Browns, raising concerns about his consistency.

DeShon Elliott is the other starter in the lineup. He joined the Steelers last year and recorded the most total tackles of his career, which makes him a reliable option in the defense.

With Thornhill’s struggles, the team may rely on Chuck Clark as a replacement, creating a depth issue in Mike Tomlin’s secondary. Shilo Sanders could be a valuable addition as a versatile fourth-string option.

Jerry Jones, the key to Shilo’s arrival in Dallas

While many Cowboys fans have urged Jerry Jones not to sign Shilo Sanders, he is known for ignoring public opinion (ask Micah Parsons). He may have a strategic reason to pursue Shilo this season.

Jerry Jones is a close friend of Shilo’s father, Deion Sanders. The Cowboys owner even tried to convince Coach Prime to join the team for the 2025 season. By signing Shilo, Jones could take a step closer to potentially bringing in Deion Sanders if things don’t work out with Brian Chottenheimer this year.