The Giants brought in several new wide receivers in free agency, including Parris Campbell and Jamison Crowder, and selected Jalin Hyatt in the third round of the draft. The Giants, though, were not ready to quit on Sterling Shepard.
Shepard, who signed a one-year contract to stay on the roster and is once again attempting a comeback, did not participate in Tuesday’s minicamp practice.
He is coming off a torn left ACL, going down in Week 3 last season against the Cowboys.
To that point, Shepard had made a successful return from the ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered in Week 15 of the 2021 season.
“I’m right on schedule where I wanted to be, a little bit ahead,’’ Shepard said. “So that’s always good. I’m just trying to take it day by day and just focus on getting back to 100 percent.’’
Shepard, 30, is the longest-tenured Giants player, trying to make it into his eighth NFL season.
He signed a one-year deal for $1.3 million, but the contract is not guaranteed, meaning he has to show he is healthy and make the team to stay with the organization that made him a second-round pick in 2016.
“My goal is to be ready for the season, so whatever that takes is what I’m going to try to do, but I’m also not going to rush it,’’ Shepard said. “You get to that time and I’m not feeling right, then that’s just what it’s going to be.’’
Former Giants coach and Hall of Famer Bill Parcells attended practice, along with Michael Strahan, and Parcells spoke with the team afterward.
“Just about accountability,’’ Daniel Jones said about Parcells’ message. “Talking about what makes a team great and what tests a team in a season and staying close, staying together, taking accountability for your role on the team. I think it was a great message.’’
Coach Brian Daboll said all players were in attendance for the first day of the mandatory minicamp.
“Everybody except Saquon [Barkley], but he didn’t sign his tag yet,’’ Daboll said.
Jones said he expects to get together with Barkley for some football work in the coming month.
“I know he’ll be around and I’ll be around,’’ Jones said.
One of the tryout players on the field was QB Jacob Eason, who started his college career at Georgia and ended it at Washington.
Eason, a 2020 fourth-round pick of the Colts, got into one game for the Colts in 2020 and one for the Panthers in 2022.
Defensive line coach Andre Patterson turned 63 on Monday.
He said he lost 62 pounds since the end of last season, working out with Giants trainers in the pool and on the treadmill to achieve the massive weight loss.
Patterson last season had to move around practice riding in a scooter.
“Yeah, thank God,’’ DT Dexter Lawrence said. “I’m happy for him. He lost a ton of weight, and he feels better. He feels healthier. He knew what needed to be done and he took control of it and started, and now he’s in good shape, looking good.’’