Todd Bowles Reveals His Honest Thoughts About Shilo Sanders

Playing in your brother’s shadow isn’t easy, especially when that brother happens to be a quarterback generating serious NFL buzz.

Shilo Sanders knows this reality well as he battles for a roster spot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while Shedeur commands attention in the draft conversation.

The defensive back has been grinding through Tampa Bay’s training camp and preseason games.

Every defensive snap matters.

Every special teams rep counts.

With final cuts approaching, Sanders understands his margin for error has essentially disappeared.

Head coach Todd Bowles recently shared his assessment of where Sanders stands in the competition.

“Shilo’s very aggressive, very young, very hungry. He can make plays in the box, and we know he can give us 100% on special teams. So, this last week is going to be very important for (him) to show up,” Coach Bowles said.

Shilo. Coach Bowles on #28

"Shilo's very aggressive, very young, very hungry. He can make plays in the box and we know he can give us 100% on special teams. This last week is going to be very important" https://t.co/Sy0R7fXrep pic.twitter.com/MgflV7Dq14

— JaKi (@JaKiTruth) August 17, 2025

Sanders has found himself fighting an uphill battle for meaningful playing time.

His contributions have primarily come during the second half of games against opposing reserves.

The flashes have been there, but the consistent impact plays that defined his college career haven’t materialized yet.

The Buccaneers’ secondary has seen significant turnover through injuries and roster moves.

Those changes have created openings for players like Sanders to step up.

However, he hasn’t been able to string together the steady performances needed to separate himself from other bubble players.

His preseason showing against Pittsburgh produced two solo tackles but lacked the standout moments that catch coaching staffs’ attention.

For defensive backs, evaluation extends beyond basic statistics.

Coaches focus heavily on fundamentals, assignment execution, and how players respond under pressure.

Sanders has one final week of practice before Tampa Bay’s preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills.

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