Former NY Giants WR Sterling Shepard signs with Jets’ practice squad

Former New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard | Getty Images Former New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard is returning to The Big Apple and is signing with the New York Jets practice squad, per a report from Mike Garafolo. Shepard joins the Jets as reinforcements with rookie wide re

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What is the story about?

Former New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard is returning to The Big Apple and is signing with the New York Jets practice squad, per a report from Mike Garafolo. Shepard joins the Jets as reinforcements with rookie wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. considered “week to week” after suffering an ankle injury.

The Giants drafted Shepard out of Oklahoma in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft with the 40th overall pick. He was immediately productive upon being drafted, catching 65 passes for 683

yards and 8 touchdowns as a rookie. He formed a dynamic duo with Odell Beckham Jr. and provided both toughness and reliability for over the middle for Eli Manning in the twilight of his career.

Shepard’s best season as a Giant came in Eli’s last full season as a starter, when he started all 16 games, racking up a career-high 872 yards on 66 catches. Unfortunately, Shepard struggled with injury after that year. Over the next several years he would suffer multiple concussions, several hamstring injuries, a ruptured Achilles, and a torn ACL.

Shepard joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2024 and played in 24 games for the Buccaneers between 2024 and 2025. He was briefly with the Houston Texans this summer, but was released in their final cuts.