Shilo Sanders may have just been gifted a spot on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 53-man roster. A pair of key injuries has allowed the 25-year-old to skyrocket on the team’s depth chart. With one preseason game remaining, Raymond James Stadium will have its eyes on Sanders, who is as hungry as ever.
Christian Izien’s Injury May Have Opened a Spot on the Buccaneers Roster for Shilo Sanders
An oblique injury to Christian Izien may be all it takes for Sanders to avoid cut day. August 26 is quickly approaching, and the Bucs’ August 23 preseason finale will give them all they need to see of their undrafted free agent. Tampa Bay knew they were taking a chance on Sanders, but a pair of key injuries may be more than enough to land him on the roster.
In addition, coach Todd Bowles said the oblique injury suffered by DB Christian Izien could force him to miss the start of the regular season.
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) August 19, 2025
The Buccaneers’ decision to sign Sanders was low-risk and high-reward. His last name would get him a job somewhere; proving himself on the field was up to him. His preseason career opened at home as he secured a quarterback hit. The first of his career felt good as Sanders also recorded a solo tackle.
Heading into Week 2, Sanders was hungry for more. The Buccaneers improved to 2-0 as Sanders doubled his tackles. While it wasn’t much, his two solo tackles still impacted. Keep in mind, no one on the team had more than four.
J.J. Roberts being out for the year is a huge boost to Sanders’ morale. The 53-man roster will look slightly different as two of the team’s top three strong safeties are out injured. Currently, Antoine Winfield Jr. is all they have. ESPN still lists Sanders as FS4 behind Tykee Smith, Kaevon Merriweather, and Rashad Wisdom.
MORE: Shilo Sanders Landing Spots: 5 Teams Who Should Pursue the Rookie Safety If the Buccaneers Cut Ties
Sanders has gotten quality playing time so far this season. Ultimately, his three tackles show signs of life. Last year, the Colorado graduate finished only one game with fewer than three tackles. He had as many as 13 in the team’s 37-21 loss to Kansas. He also picked up 10 against No. 18 Kansas State, in a close 31-28 loss.
Sanders’s seven solo tackles against a Top 25 team say a lot. His performance in the Valero Alamo Bowl can be taken with a grain of salt, though he did have eight total tackles. There’s no question that he has talent; it’s just a matter of the Buccaneers managing their injuries to look at roster depth. Currently, Izien’s missing time only helps Sanders avoid cut day.
