Four weeks after the NFL season, Shilo Sanders are still looking for a second chance in the league after being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the final lineup cut.
Sanders quickly became a Tampa Bay fan favorite and did all the right things off the field, but once the mat boarded him, he couldn't separate himself. He struggled throughout the preseason, plagued by missed tackles and a splash of lack of coverage. Even though the minor injury seemed to open a door for him to sneak up on the roster, the pirates let him go without bringing him back to the practice team.
His most memorable moment in Red and Tin was his infamous shot in the preseason finale as he threw a punch at the tight end of Buffalo Bills, Zach Davidson, and eventually proved to be the last nail in the coffin. But despite the tough ending, Sanders made an overall impression within the organization.
“We were told that the Pirates like to have Shilo in the building, treating Deion Sanders' son as a good kid, always respecting everyone. Shilo also immediately felt remorse during the incident, which led him to reject his game from the second quarter of the game,” the Pro Football Talk Talk Talk Talk Florio reported.
Now, Sanders finally saw it again in the NFL and may have a chance to revive his career.
49ers brings former BUC Shilo Sanders for workout
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the San Francisco 49ers hosted Sanders for a workout this week. San Francisco is exploring options safely and can view the 24-year-old as potential depth.
Sanders' father, Hall of Fame Deion Sanders, spent a season with the 49ers in 1994, leading the league with six interceptions (including three draft picks), on his way to first-team full-time honors, Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl XXIX championship.
Now, his son hopes to follow in those steps and restore his NFL dream in San Francisco. Despite no immediate signature, Sanders firmly climbed onto the 49-man radar.
The Pirates faced 49 people in Tampa Bay in Week 6. If Sanders does land with San Francisco, it might set a storybook chance to return the chips on his shoulder to Raymond James Stadium and prove that Bucs mistakenly gave up on him.