Shilo Sanders received another discouraging update this week as the Jacksonville Jaguars added safety Kahlef Hailassie to their roster, signaling shrinking opportunities for Sanders to reclaim a spot in the league.
The move came immediately after Jacksonville released Darnell Savage, creating a vacancy that Hailassie swiftly filled. For Sanders, already a free agent following his release by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, this transaction marks yet another obstacle.
Hailassie, formerly part of Minnesota’s practice squad and with prior experience in Cleveland, is expected to provide depth in the Jaguars’ defensive backfield.
Valued for his versatility-though listed as a safety-Hailassie primarily played outside cornerback in college and early in his NFL career-the Jaguars believe he can be used in multiple roles, particularly in three-safety formations.
The squeeze tightens: Shilo’s dwindling window
Sanders’ situation has been precarious since a late-August preseason incident: while playing for the Buccaneers, he was ejected for punching Bills tight end Zach Davidson.
He was fined $4,669 for the act and shortly after was released when Tampa Bay cut its roster to the required 53, unable to find a place on the practice squad thereafter.
“You can’t throw punches in this league. That’s inexcusable,” Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles declared after the incident. “They’re gonna get you every time. Gotta grow from that.”
Since then, no other NFL team has secured Sanders for their main roster or practice squad. With Jacksonville’s recent signing, another safety spot has been claimed, reducing the pool of openings he might target.
Jacksonville’s decision to bring in Hailassie reflects their urgency for defensive backs who can adapt to different schematic roles. Andrew Wingard and Eric Murray remain the starting safeties, but those behind them are under increasing pressure.
For Sanders, who played college football at Colorado, Jackson State, and South Carolina, the challenge has grown tougher-his NFL resume remains marred by the disciplinary blemish and the timing of roster commitments.
Will Shilo Sanders find another team?
While it would be premature to write off Shilo Sanders’ professional football ambitions entirely, the Jaguars’ move is emblematic of the narrowing margins for players in his situation.
Every roster slot taken by someone else is one less chance Sanders has to prove his worth-especially after being waived and left without another claim following the Buccaneers’ final cuts.
He and brother Shedeur Sanders, who is in an unfavourable situation with the Cleveland Browns, have been linked with the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL.
In competitive NFL environments, character and reliability often weigh as heavily as raw talent. Teams must balance risk; for Jacksonville, choosing a player like Hailassie-already familiar with corners and safeties, and with less controversy attached-likely seemed safer.
As it stands now, Sanders’ best remaining paths may lie outside of the active 53-man rosters. Practice squads, lesser-known leagues, or even media-oriented platforms (given his family legacy and visibility) might offer alternative opportunities.
But with each safety signing elsewhere, the odds of returning to the NFL grow steeper.
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