Is This Year Sterling Shepard's Last Chance with Giants?

Can receiver Sterling Shepard finally stay healthy enough to help the Giants' offense?

Author:
Andrew Parsaud
Publish date:
Jul 5, 2023 10:00 AM EDT

In this story:

Sterling Shepard, Wide Receiver

Height: 5-foot-10 | Weight: 196 pounds
2022 stats: GP 3 / GS 2: 13 catches, 154 yards, one touchdown

Sterling Shepard is the longest-tenured member of the New York Giants. He’s well-liked among the coaching staff and the locker room and is undoubtedly one of Daniel Jones’ favorite targets to throw to. Shepard was drafted in the second round by the Giants in 2016. He’s been here through the dark times, seeing multiple coaching and front office changes.

The problem with Shepard has been his availability. There is no denying his insane work ethic and passion for the game, but he, unfortunately, has had some significant injuries that have cut short his seasons of late.

He’s missed games in the last four seasons, his 2021 and 2022 seasons ending prematurely after he suffered a torn Achilles and ACL, respectively. Shepard has appeared in just ten games over the last two seasons, which isn’t ideal for a 30-year-old receiver on a tea with some younger, healthier talent.

Shepard is now the elder statesman of the wide receiver room. He is by no means a lock to make the roster this year, but he has fans within the organization that will make it hard for the Giants to cut ties. Can Shepard finally stay healthy enough to help the Giants win even more games in 2023?

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Best Case Scenario

The plan for Shepard this year is simple to say but harder to put into action. He has to stay healthy. There’s no denying his impact on the field. He’s created a chemistry with Daniel Jones that’s unmatched. He’s the energizer that this team needs, whether he’s suited up or not. Shepard’s sheer presence makes the team perform better.

There’s not much else to say than just staying healthy should be his top goal for 2023. He deserves to contribute to a winning Giants team, as he was here for so many losing seasons.

His last fully healthy season was in 2018 when he caught 66 passes for 872 yards and four touchdowns. The last time he came close to playing a full season was in 2020, appearing in 12 games.

He still had a solid season in 2020, amassing 656 yards and three touchdowns. The problem with Shepard lies with his availability, not his production.

Worst Case Scenario

There are two scenarios for Shepard that could make his 2023 forgettable. The first is obvious: getting injured again. Even if it’s not a season-ending injury, Shepard missing any games in 2023 will only hurt his chances of being on the team in 2024.

The other scenario is being beaten out by other players. The Giants have a lot of competition at receiver, where very few spots are locked up. Toss in the fact that Shepard could start training camp on the PUP list, which would put his availability for the start of the 2023 season in doubt, and that's not a promising outlook.

What to Expect in 2023

Shepard has been one of the most well-liked Giants players for a while. There’s nothing more that the team and fans want to see more than him staying healthy and finally contributing to a winning team.

If he can stay healthy, his role won’t be huge, but the coaching staff will find ways to use his skill set. After all, Shepard’s route running is among the best on the team, and he is a reliable pass catcher, something the offense desperately lacked last year.

If he can stay on the field, Shepard will make an impact. If he’s missing games again, his playing career is up in the air. Hopefully, he can prove everyone wrong and remain healthy for a full season.