While Deion and Shedeur Sanders have dominated the spotlight in recent months, Shilo Sanders could soon take center stage.

Sanders faces two enormous battles: earning a spot on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ final 53-man roster while also trying to erase an $11 million debt in bankruptcy court.
Shilo Sanders roasts brother Shedeur Sanders over speeding offences as Browns warned to ‘pump brakes’ on rookie QB
There’s a lot on the plate of a 25-year-old.As the preseason winds down and final cuts loom on Tuesday’s August 26 deadline at 4pm EST, most predictions place Sanders on the bubble.

The rookie safety has had an impressive training camp, as head coach Todd Bowles has pointed out on more than one occasion.

“Shilo played tough,” Bowles said after the first preseason game.
“I thought he went in and did a heck of a job. He had some good tackles inside. He had a pressure on the quarterback as well. He did some good coverage things. So he did a good job when he was in there.”A week prior to that, Bowles noted that Sanders has a legitimate chance to find himself on the roster come September.

“He’s coming along,” Bowles said, via a transcript from the team. “He’s getting the scheme down. He’s made plays like everybody else back there…He’s got a chance to make it.”

While Sanders has given himself a real shot, it’s still going to take a lot for the undrafted free agent to steal a spot on a loaded Bucs defense.

The Bucs have their final preseason game on Saturday against the Buffalo Bills and all of Tampa Bay’s starters will be on the sideline, which will give Sanders one last shot to make his case.

However, if he does get cut, there are already whispers of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wanting to keep bathing in the spotlight, with a move for Sanders.

Sanders has impressed the Tampa Bay coaching staff when given his opportunityCredit: Getty

Sanders is projected to barely miss out on making the final 53-man rosterCredit: Getty
Forget the Micah Parsons’ drama for a moment. PFSN’s Scott DiBenedetto predicted the Cowboys as a possible landing spot if Sanders gets cut.

“Shilo would have his work cut out for him to make the game day roster, but don’t put it past Jerry Jones to reach for some nostalgia by adding Shilo,” DiBenedetto wrote.

The nostalgia comes from Jones presumably wanting another Sanders in the star helmet.

He fondly remembers the last time a Sanders was in Dallas — when Primetime helped him win his third Super Bowl ring in 1995.

While his fate on the field remains uncertain, off the field Sanders must also contend with an ongoing bankruptcy case.

Sanders owes more than $11 million to a man named John Darjean, a former security guard who worked at Sanders’ high school in Dallas.

Darjean alleges that back in 2015 he was assaulted by a 15-year-old Shilo, which led to severe permanent injuries.

In 2016 Darjean sued Sanders seeking damages, while Shilo has claimed self-defense and filed counterclaims in response before Darjean eventually won a default judgement of $11.89m in 2022 when Shilo failed to appear at the trial.

Darjean wants to collect the debt, which prompted Shilo to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the hopes of getting it wiped away in a discharge and according to his attorneys ‘get a fresh start in life.’

The case is still ongoing and there is no current trial date.
For now, Sanders’ attention and focus is on making the Bucs’ final roster – or doing enough to convince one of the other 31 teams that he is worth a shot if he is cut.Should he fail to make a 53-man list, a spot on a practice squad, in Tampa – or anywhere else – might be his best hope of taking the next step in his playing career.