Sterling Shepard shakes New York Giants rookie out of his shoes

When wide receiver Sterling Shepard went down with a torn ACL in Week 3 last season, many assumed his New York Giants career was over.

Shepard had already battled his way back from a torn Achilles and hadn’t played a full season since 2018. Still, the Giants recognized his leadership and value in the locker room so they not only kept him around the team last year but re-signed him to a one-year deal this past offseason.

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“It means a lot (to be back),” Shepard said in June. “This organization has been really good to me throughout my playing career, and some of the stuff that’s happened over the years. I’m grateful and thankful and I try to give this organization everything I’ve got just for those reasons.”

The Giants are not shy about their admiration of Shepard, both the player and the person. That was evident last season when head coach Brian Daboll insisted on having Shepard around and co-owner John Mara already plotting a post-playing career job for the 30-year-old.

Still, because of his injury issues, many have been skeptical of Shepard’s role on the Giants. Some even view him as a bubble player who is at risk of being cut.

Those of us at Giants Wire don’t subscribe to that theory and anyone who’s watched Shepard at training camp won’t, either.

On Monday, as the Giants returned to practice, Shepard once again proved why he’s considered the best route-runner on the team. He pulled a little shake-and-bake on rookie Tre Hawkins, who got stonewalled, before hauling in the touchdown.

Shep 🔥 pic.twitter.com/eF8ffQ2IwN

— New York Giants (@Giants) August 14, 2023

Tre Hawkins has been surprisingly dominant in camp thus far but there was just no defense for Shepard’s moves. That was enough to shake a savvy veteran out of his shoes.

And, of course, tight end Darren Waller was there to meet Shepard with the griddy.