Todd Bowles: Shilo Sanders has 'got a chance' to make Buccaneers roster

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2025-08-01

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While much of the spotlight is on Shedeur Sanders and his push for a Cleveland Browns roster spot and potentially stealing the starting gig, his brother Shilo is toiling away in the Florida heat, attempting to earn a spot in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ secondary.

Coach Todd Bowles said Thursday that the elder Sanders brother has a shot to make the 53-man roster if he makes plays during the preseason.

“He’s coming along. He’s getting the scheme down,” Bowles said, via the team’s official transcript. “He’s made plays like everybody else back there. There are a few tests that come up during the preseason — Tuesday night was one, and the other three preseason games and practices will be others. He’s got a chance to make it.”

Sanders is competing for a spot in a young Bucs secondary. There are depth spots up for grabs at safety behind star Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith, who moved over from a nickel role last season.

The 25-year-old defensive back spent six seasons playing collegiately, the last two at Colorado. In his final season, Sanders finished with 67 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, two passes defensed, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, returning one for a touchdown. He went undrafted before signing in Tampa.

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Hall of Famer Deion Sanders recently visited Bucs training camp to check in on his son’s effort to make the squad.

“He came to visit his son; he didn’t come to visit me,” Bowles said of Prime’s visit. “He strictly came to see Shilo. I guarantee you he didn’t come to see me. Not that I don’t like him, but he’s a father going to visit his son. Who wouldn’t be proud to have their son trying out in the NFL?”

Bowles’ comments underscore that Sanders is still in the mix to earn a spot, even if he’s currently down the depth chart. A coach could say seemingly every player on the 90-man roster has “a chance” to make the team. The coming preseason games will be the true indicator of whether Sanders pushes his way onto the initial roster or fights for a practice squad job either in Tampa or elsewhere.