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New York Giants veteran wideout Sterling Shepard is making progress in his return from the concussion protocol.

At least the New York Giants have some optimistic news after losing their fourth consecutive game this past Sunday.

Wideout Sterling Shepard participated in a contact practice on Wednesday. Shepard has been in the concussion protocol since Oct. 7 and has missed each of the last three games. The veteran receiver has missed four total matchups this year, as he was in the concussion protocol for the Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills as well.

“It’s just a matter of time,” head coach Pat Shurmur said on Wednesday regarding Shepard’s return, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. “But he had a contact practice, and that’s a good thing.”

Shurmur additionally noted that Shepard would be meeting with doctors later on in the week. The team hopes he’ll be cleared for their upcoming Week 9 matchup.

What’s beneficial about this situation is that the Giants’ next game is on Monday night. Therefore, Shepard has one extra day to recover from the injury and thus play in his first game since Oct. 6, where Big Blue suffered a 28-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

“I think he’s getting closer and closer,” Shurmur said. “We have an extra day certainly because it’s Monday Night [Football], but we’ll see what the week brings.”

Through four games this year, Shepard has caught 25 balls for 267 yards and one touchdown.

The Giants and the division leading-Dallas Cowboys will kick off next Monday night at 8:15 p.m. ET.

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Ryan Honey is a staff writer and host of the Wide Right Podcast.