As if New York Giants fans needed any more grief, fourth-year wide receiver Sterling Shepard will undergo the NFL's concussion protocol after being diagnosed with one from Sunday's season-opening loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
The 26-year-old wideout suffered a concussion against the Cowboys, per SNY's Ralph Vacchiano, and could miss time in the near future. Sterling had caught six receptions in the Week 1 defeat, totaling 42 yards.
Shepard going down is bad news for a depleted Giants wide receivers corps, which lost newly minted wideout option in veteran Golden Tate, who is missing the team's first four games due to violating the league's performance-enhancing substances policy.
Tate previously apologized to the organization, but at the moment he is still serving the suspension. Shepard's concussion only adds to limited options for franchise quarterback Eli Manning, under scrutiny for diminishing performance in recent years.
The Giants signed Shepard to a four-year, $41 million extension prior to the 2019 season after trading superstar receiver Odell Bechkam Jr. to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for safety Jabrill Peppers and draft picks.
Last season Shepard posted a career-best 66 receptions in 16 games for the Giants. Shepard totaled 872 receiving yards, scoring four touchdowns in the process.
Now the G-Men will be without him for an unspecified amount of time. Former practice squad receiver and ex-Browns first-round pick from the 2016 draft Corey Coleman tore his ACL during the Giants' training camp.
At the moment, it looks like third-year tight end Evan Engram is Manning's No. 1 passing option on offense. Engram caught 11 receptions for 116 yards and one touchdown against Dallas on Sunday.
New York hosts the Buffalo Bills in Week 2 of the season next Sunday.
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