Sterling Shepard won’t read too much into the Giants asking him to play two offensive series and catch a punt in the final preseason game.
While most of the roster looks rested up for the regular season Saturday in a 32-24 loss to the Jets, Shepard played alongside teammates fighting to survive cut day, which raises questions about where he fits in a receiver rotation crowded by the additions of Parris Campbell, Jalin Hyatt and Cole Beasley.
“I just do whatever I’m told,” Shepard said. “I think [coming back] from injury has a part to do with it. They want to get me a little bit more live action before the season starts and make sure I’m feeling good out there and prepared for what’s coming next. I honestly think it was good for me. I already felt good after last week, but I don’t think it can ever be too much.”
Shepard, 30, is the longest-tenured Giants (entering his eighth season) but is coming off back-to-back seasons cut short by a torn Achilles and a torn ACL.
He was forced into plenty of days off during training camp but looked spry when in action — often schooling second-team defensive backs.
“They held me back but it was all for the greater good of my health,” Shepard said. “I feel like it helped a lot. The days I was out there, I was able to play to the max. I don’t know if it would’ve been like that if I was pounding every day coming back from the ACL. I feel like I got enough tape out there to show what I can do, what I can bring to the team.”
The Giants have to cut their roster from 90 players to 53 by 4 p.m. Tuesday. Is Shepard concerned about his place?
“No,” he said. “I leave that up to God. I’ve done everything I’ve had to. I leave it all out there every time I step on the field, whether it’s practice or the game. I don’t like to live with regret — and if I give it my all, that’s all I can do.”
Shepard isn’t just one of the most popular players in the locker room, especially after the way he coached up teammates while sidelined last season.
His rapport with quarterback Daniel Jones is indisputable.
But linebacker Blake Martinez played in the preseason finale last year — also coming off a season-ending injury — and then was a surprise cut.
Shepard has never caught a punt in the NFL regular season despite getting hundreds of reps in practice and couldn’t pinpoint why head coach Brian Daboll asked him and then fellow veteran Jamison Crowder to do it ahead of rookie Eric Gray, who has handled the duties most of the summer.
“I told Dabes, ‘It’s been a while since I’ve been asked to do it in a game, but I’m down to do it,’ ” Shepard said. “You want to have depth of guys who are able to catch punts just in case somebody goes down.”