The New York Giants signed wide receiver Sterling Shepard to a one-year deal in the offseason, keeping him in East Rutherford on the heels of another devastating injury.
The team’s longest-tenured player most recently returned from a torn ACL which came after the return from a ruptured Achilles.
Despite those injuries, Shepard has looked as spry as ever. During practice, it’s clear to see that he’s the team’s most polished and talented route runner. He is shifty, explosive and has earned the respect of all those around him.
Unfortunately for Shepard, that has not translated into a significant role on gameday. In fact, he’s taken a backseat to most other receivers on the team, seeing just 26 combined snaps over the first three games.
“If I worry too much about all that other stuff I can send myself down a rabbit hole and have a whole bunch of ‘poor me’ situations,” Shepard told the New York Post. “My mindset is not letting that happen and just staying ready and being patient. There’s nothing else for me to do. Me moaning about it ain’t really gonna do anything.”
Although Shepard is clearly frustrated with his diminished role, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka says the veteran has remained completely professional.
“He’s doing a great job, he’s been a pro. He comes to practice every day and he works. He’s a great teammate and every week everyone develops their role for the offense and how they’re going to be used and that’s what we’re working on this week,” Kafka told reporters on Friday.
But that role is limited at best. And in Shepard’s eyes, the writing on the wall has become clear.
“The writing is really on the wall, man,” Shepard said. “It don’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. I just know I got to be ready. Being in this game, this is my eighth season, been around a lot so you kind of know every different situation that can come about. I’ve seen it the other way around where guys get into a (expletive)-off attitude and their number’s called and they’re not ready.”
Shepard will be ready if his number is called but that doesn’t make him any less annoyed with the current situation.
The Giants kept Shepard around the team last season because of his leadership. He’s been praised by general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll repeatedly, and co-owner John Mara has even stated he wants to find a role for Shepard once he retires. But as grateful as Shepard was when the Giants re-signed him, there was no way he envisioned this small a role.
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