Giants show signs that Sterling Shepard might be activated soon
Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard works out on the sidelines during training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, N.J., on Aug. 1. Credit: Brad Penner
The first real sign Sterling Shepard may be able to play early this season as he recovers from an Achilles injury came on Tuesday when the Giants . . . did nothing.
To trim their roster from 85 to 80 players by Tuesday’s deadline they made several moves involving injured players. Rookie LB Darrian Beavers (ACL) and TEs Ricky Seals-Jones (toe) and Andre Miller (fractured forearm) were placed on season-ending IR and offensive linemen Nick Gates (leg) and Matt Peart (ACL) were shifted from PUP to PUP/reserve meaning they will miss at least the first four weeks of the season.
But Shepard? The Giants didn’t change his designation at all, an indication he is close to being activated off PUP where he began training camp and that he could be ready to play when the regular season begins in about two and a half weeks. A source told Newsday the team is hoping to activate him “soon,” with a chance he passes his physical and is cleared as early as Wednesday.
Had the Giants believed Shepard was not on track for that potential return and might be able to play in the first month of the regular season they likely would have added him to PUP/reserve and given Seals-Jones or Miller a chance to recover and play.
Shepard, the longest-tenured current Giant, suffered his Achilles injury in December and took a significant pay cut in the offseason to remain with the team. He has not practiced this spring or summer but has been running with trainers on the side during workouts. Because he was not placed on PUP/reserve he is eligible to come off PUP at any point.
Notes & quotes: The Giants did not add a kicker to fill in temporarily for Graham Gano (concussion). But they still may do so by the end of the week if Gano does not appear close to clearing the protocols in time to participate in Sunday’s preseason finale against the Jets. In the meantime, punter Jamie Gillan technically will be the backup kicker while most of the kickoffs in the three remaining practices will be handled by the Jugs machines.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
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