New York Giants wideout Sterling Shepard feels healthy after entering the concussion protocol for the second time this season.
After the New York Giants‘ Week 5 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings, the organization was followed up with additional bad news. Veteran wide receiver Sterling Shepard came into the building on Monday morning showing symptoms of a concussion. Doctors ultimately entered him into the concussion protocol for the second time this year.
Shepard hasn’t played since, missing the team’s next two games (and losses) against the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals. It’s not clear if Shepard will be cleared for the team’s Week 8 game against the Detroit Lions either. However, the fourth-year pro makes it known that he feels healthy and doesn’t want to let his past head injuries affect his play style.
“I feel like it’ll affect the way that I play if I think about it,” Shepard told Greg Joyce of the New York Post on Tuesday. “If I try to change the way that I play, I won’t be the player that I am. So I’m not going to change anything.
“You think about [the long-lasting effects]. It’s in the back of your head,” he added. “But I feel like at this point, it [would] change the way that I play and I’m not going to change the way that I play. I’ve given it a little thought, but I’m ultimately going to do what I love to do.”
Shepard noted that he feels “100 percent.”
It’s not likely the Giants will try to rush him back at all. These head injuries are serious, and when a player has had two already this year, you need to be cautious on all angles.
Golden Tate has taken Shepard’s place as the No. 1 receiver in the pair of matchups and has combined for 12 receptions for 182 yards and a touchdown.
