For a player like Shilo Sanders, preseason games are an opportunity to exhibit his prowess. And that’s what he intended to do going into the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. While he did not enter the field in the first half, his time came during the third quarter. But sadly, things didn’t start well for him… He missed a big tackle.

“Bad missed tackle by Shilo Sanders. Vildor there to clean it up,” wrote Bucs reporter JC Allen on X. In total, he missed two tackles and also failed to make any plays in coverage. On the other hand, safety Kaevon Merriweather recorded four tackles while Rashad Wisdom added two tackles and broke up a pass.

In the end, Tampa Bay won 17-14. Shilo finished the game with just two solo tackles and not much worth remembering. That’s not the kind of evening the safety hoped for, considering he is trying his best to occupy a spot on the team’s 53-man roster.

What’s interesting is that he made his presence felt in his NFL debut against the Titans. He delivered some hard hits. Regardless, Tampa Bay is yet to face the Buffalo Bills, which will be their third preseason game. Perhaps Shilo could use that as his next opportunity to shine. The Buccaneers’ safety room is thin after injuries piled up recently, and that’s something he could take advantage of.

• Antoine Winfield Jr. is experiencing hamstring tightness. The Bucs will be very careful with him.
• Marcus Banks, who was also competing for a roster spot, has been waived with an injury settlement.
•  J.J. Roberts is dealing with a season-ending knee injury, which he suffered during the joint practice session with the Steelers. He will have to spend time on the injured reserve.
• Christian Izien (who can play safety as well as nickel cornerback) endured an oblique injury in the preseason game against the Steelers.

These injuries could pave the way for Shilo to earn a roster spot. Here’s how: Pewter Report’s latest roster projection for Tampa Bay had J.J. Roberts and Kaevon Merriwether, Christian Izien, Tykee Smith, and Antoine Winfield Jr. on the list. Shilo Sanders was missing. But since many of them are injured, Sanders could squeeze his way into the main roster.

Shilo Sanders’ NFL dream is still alive

To begin with, Shilo Sanders has taken quite a winding path to get here. From South Carolina State to Jackson State and then Colorado, he kept chasing the chance to prove himself before entering the 2025 NFL Draft. Though he went undrafted, Tampa Bay picked him up as a free agent, giving him one more shot to fight for a roster spot. And with recent setbacks in the Buccaneers’ safety room, Shilo’s window of opportunity has opened a little wider.

He already has a fan base and support. If he puts up a convincing performance in the third preseason game, he might earn a roster spot. After all, HC Todd Bowles was impressed by the way he played against the Titans. “I thought he went in and did a heck of a job. He had some good tackles inside, and he had pressure on the quarterback as well. He did some good coverage things, he did a good job when he was in there,” the coach said.

However, the pressure is squarely on him heading into the last preseason game. The elder Sanders brother knows it’s now or never to show he belongs on the team. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.