The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ preseason clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers offered more than just a scoreboard result. For some players, it was a chance to climb the roster ladder, while for others, the night only raised more doubts. One name that stood out in this conversation was Shilo Sanders, and not for the reasons he would have hoped.
Did Shilo Sanders’ Struggles Against the Steelers Put His Buccaneers Roster Spot at Risk?
NFL analyst J.T. Olson offered a candid evaluation of Sanders, pointing out that while he impressed against the Titans, he struggled against the Steelers.
Olson wrote, “It was a chance for him to seize the moment, but he both figuratively and literally fell flat on his face tonight”. That blunt evaluation underscored a game that could have been a turning point in Sanders’ preseason journey.
PFSN’s Sebastian Mondaca provided more context to Sanders’ night. Entering the game in the third quarter, the 25-year-old safety was expected to capitalize on the injuries in Tampa Bay’s secondary.
Mondaca noted that Sanders opened his night with a missed tackle, a mistake that could prove damaging for someone fighting to secure one of the few roster spots available. He ultimately recorded two solo tackles but failed to deliver the highlight-worthy plays that coaches want to see in high-stakes moments.
Shilo Sanders just sent a MESSAGE in his NFL debut that he belongs in this league.
• 37 total defensive snaps (3rd on team)
• 23 coverage snaps
• 0 targets
• 0 receptions allowed
• 0.0 passer rating allowed
• 1 QB hit
• 1 total tackle
Sanders was reportedly “making his… pic.twitter.com/pQya7tahxC
— Rookie Watch (@RookieWatxh) August 10, 2025
This setback was especially disappointing considering Sanders’ promising debut against the Titans a week earlier. Mondaca pointed out how Sanders had immediately made his presence felt in that opener, nearly recording a sack and finishing with a solo tackle and a quarterback hit.
His energy, instincts, and positioning had drawn praise from fans who remembered his hard-hitting style at Colorado, where he tallied 67 tackles in his final season. Against Pittsburgh, however, those traits seemed absent.
Olson emphasized that preseason is the proving ground for players like Sanders. Missed assignments and slow coverage responses stood out as glaring issues, and in a game where he had the opportunity to establish himself as a reliable option, Sanders left evaluators wanting more.
“We saw a few missed tackles by Sanders against the Steelers. In coverage, it felt like he was a step slow to provide help,” Olson said.
Still, as Mondaca reminded, the journey is not over. Sanders will get another chance when the Buccaneers face the Buffalo Bills in their final preseason game. For a player carrying both the weight of his family legacy and the pressure of securing an NFL role, the next performance could be decisive.
Sanders has shown flashes of ability, but consistency remains the missing piece. His upcoming opportunity may determine whether he can shake off a difficult night against the Steelers and keep his roster hopes alive.
