Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Shilo Sanders has an arguably harder road to an NFL career than his brother and Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
The two rookies — and sons — of NFL legend Deion Sanders. Both had to wait until day three of the NFL Draft weekend as Shedeur Sanders went in the fifth round and Shilo Sanders signed as an undrafted free agent. While both rookies are vying for significant roles with their respective teams, the brothers differed greatly on whether or not their father could visit training camp.
Shedeur Sanders on Monday explained why his father couldn’t come 12 days after Deion Sanders dropped by to observe Shilo Sanders at the Buccaneers camp on July 23. Both Shilo Sanders and Shedeur Sanders played for their father at the University of Colorado for the past two years.
“I don’t want him coming to see me right now because I want to get to where I want to go, then for him to see me,” Shedeur Sanders said during Monday’s press conference. “I don’t want him to come and see me get a couple reps, and he is cheering like a good dad.”
“Like, nah, you can’t be proud of me right now. I got to get to where I’m going, and I know it’s a lot I got to do to get there,” Sanders added.
Shedeur Sanders is competing with Dillon Gabriel, Joe Flacco, and Kenny Pickett for the starting quarterback job in Cleveland. Meanwhile, Shilo Sanders is battling for a roster spot in the Buccaneers secondary as fellow free safeties Christian Izien, Tykee Smith, and J.J. Roberts sit ahead of him on the projected depth chart.
Deion Sanders Wasn’t a Distraction in Tampa
GettyShilo Sanders has impressed in Buccaneers practices.
Deion Sanders explained to NFL analyst Michael Irvin on July 28 that he wouldn’t go to Ohio to watch Shedeur Sanders out of respect for his son’s wishes. While Deion Sanders has a larger-than-life following, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles didn’t see it as a distraction.
“It’s a normal day for me,” Bowles told reporters on July 23. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s a father coming to see his son like all of us would be doing.”
Where Shilo Sanders and Shedeur Sanders Stand
Shilo Sanders isn’t a lock to make the roster because of his last name. He will have to prove himself during the preseason games, which kick off for the Buccaneers on Saturday versus the Tennessee Titans.
“He’s coming along,” Bowles told reporters on July 31. “He’s getting the scheme down, he’s made plays like everybody else back there. There’s a few tests that come up during the preseason, Tuesday night was one. The other three preseason games and practices will be the others. He’s got a good chance to make it.”
Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders hasn’t been leading the Browns’ first team offense much at all, and he sat out of Sunday’s practice due to “arm soreness,” Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported. Shedeur Sanders practiced on Monday and said his arm is feeling better.
That said, his participation level and the sheer number of quarterbacks have the trade rumor mill primed. Former NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert indicated that the Browns’ choice to sit Sanders is a sign of a potential trade.
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