Shepard may be back to face Eagles
Wide receiver Sterling Shepard participated in Tuesday’s Giants walkthrough practice and might return to play in Thursday night’s game against the Eagles. Shepard has missed the last four games with a turf toe injury he suffered late in the first half at Chicago in Week 2. He stayed on injured reserve for four weeks, one game longer than the three required by the NFL for a player placed on I.R.
The Giants designated him for return on Tuesday, his first practice in uniform, meaning they have 21 days to activate him. But he could play as soon as Thursday if the trainers give him the green light.
Coach Joe Judge said on Monday that “this could go up to a pregame workout.”
Shepard, 27, would be a welcome addition since the Giants lost C.J. Board (concussion) Sunday against Washington. Golden Tate is seldom used in two-receiver sets.
The Giants’ two-receiver sets on Sunday after Board’s injury featured undrafted rookie Austin Mack in his NFL debut and top wideout Darius Slayton, who is playing through a foot injury.
Quarterback Daniel Jones has just one touchdown pass in his last five games and three for the season, so Shepard would be a welcome addition.
If Shepard cannot play, Alex Bachman or Derrick Dillon could be activated from the practice squad. Bachman, Dillon, QB Clayton Thorson and OLB Trent Harris were the Giants’ four practice squad protections this week.
INJURY REPORT
The Giants only held a brief walkthrough practice on Tuesday, but their projected injury report continued to list Board (concussion) and free safety Adrian Colbert (shoulder) as “did not practice.”
The Giants also placed rookie LB Tae Crowder (hamstring) on injured reserve, meaning he’s sidelined at least three weeks. Crowder returned a Washington fumble for last week’s game-winning TD.
Board will not play. The good news is he was discharged from the hospital late Sunday night with the concussion but no further damage after initially being diagnosed with a sprained neck.
Slot corner Darnay Holmes (neck) was upgraded to limited.
PANTHERS POACH CHANDLER
The Carolina Panthers signed third-year safety Sean Chandler off the Giants’ practice squad on Tuesday. Chandler, 24, played college ball for Panthers coach Matt Rhule at Temple.
The Camden product played in 32 games for the Giants since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He mostly played special teams and was used sparingly on defense. He played in Weeks 1, 2 and 4 for Judge’s Giants this season, almost exclusively on specials. ...
The Giants signed veteran defensive end Jabaal Sheard off the Jaguars’ practice squad on Tuesday. Sheard, 31, played 15 snaps and deflected a pass in the Jaguars’ loss Sunday to the Lions, his only appearance of the season.
Sheard played in New England with Judge in 2015-16, winning a Super Bowl in his second and final season there.