All eyes were on Shedeur Sanders as he made his preseason debut with the Cleveland Browns on Friday night. However, he isn’t the only second-generation member of the Sanders family looking to make his mark in an NFL preseason game this weekend.
Legendary Hall of Famer Deion Sanders’ third child, Shilo Sanders, joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent, and now the former Colorado safety is looking to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
A Look at Shilo Sanders’ Performance vs. the Titans
While Sanders didn’t play in the first half against the Buccaneers, he started the second half for Tampa Bay as both teams emptied their benches. Before the game, there was plenty of excitement among Bucs fans who couldn’t wait to see Sanders play.
Let’s see if Shilo Sanders can put on a show like his brother yesterday. pic.twitter.com/TRHbHH6Hh9
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) August 9, 2025
During the first half against the Titans, the Buccaneers focused on getting some reps in for the first- and second-team units. Now, all eyes are on Shilo to see what he can do in the second half against Tennessee’s backups.
It didn’t take long for the youngster to make his mark on the game. During one of his first NFL plays, Sanders went uncovered and had a free run directly at Titans backup quarterback Brandon Allen, nearly registering a sack.
Shilo Sanders 💥
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/yZnEBJVPEP
— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2025
The first game was about as good as Sanders could have hoped for. Registering one solo tackle and that explosive QB hit, he must have made a good impression on head coach Todd Bowles. Additionally, even outside the stat sheet, the young safety had some high-IQ plays that could further help his case. The Buccaneers won the game 29-7 against the Titans.
Bowles made it clear ahead of the preseason opener that the youngster has a chance to make the official 53-man roster.
Speaking to the media after a gruelling day at training camp, he clarified, “He’s coming along. He’s getting the scheme down. He’s made plays like everybody else back there.”
However, he also made it clear that the preseason games were going to be major deciding factors in his trajectory to the roster. “There are a few tests that come up during the preseason – Tuesday night was one, and the other preseason games will be others.”
Last season, Sanders was a starting safety for Colorado. This marked his sixth and final year in college football, having redshirted in 2019 and earning an extra year of eligibility for the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
In the eight games he played last year, he had 67 tackles and two tackles for a loss. He added a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries (including one that he returned for a touchdown) and a sack, plus two pass deflections.
With significant collegiate experience, a high football IQ, and solid athletic ability for the safety position, Sanders emerged as an effective coverage defender with a penchant for forcing fumbles. Now, he will try to prove that his skill set translates to the NFL.
Sanders’ next opportunity to impress Bowles and Co. is next weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the rookie is already making the Bucs’ fan base believe.
