Sterling Shepard is an American football wide receiver who plays for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Since then, Shepard has been an incredibly reliable receiver, providing excellent production and performance. Here is a look at what makes Sterling Shepard such a great receiver for the New York Giants.
Overview of Sterling Shepard’s Careers Stats
In his four-year career with the New York Giants, Sterling Shepard has appeared in and started 58 out of 64 possible games. He has compiled career totals of 3,282 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns on 254 receptions. Shepard also has seven rushing attempts totaling 29 yards. He has been a reliable target and has averaged 12.9 yards per catch and 55.1 yards per game so far.
Shepard’s Achievements and Accolades
Sterling Shepard has regularly been one of the most reliable wide receivers for the New York Giants. In 2016, he finished third in receptions (65) and was fourth in receiving yards (683). He was also named the 2016 Offensive Rookie of the Year Award by the New York Giants. Shepard was named to the Pro Bowl in 2018 as a replacement for Odell Beckham Jr.
Shepard is part of the elite 25-and-under club in the NFL, being one of 25 promising young receivers in the league. He has also been named a “Contender for Comeback Player of the Year” by Peter Schrager of Good Morning Football and the NFL Network.
Shepard’s Training and Workouts
Sterling Shepard implements many different techniques in his training and workout strategies. Shepard works out 5 days a week and focuses on predominantly on agility and speed. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Shepard works on agility drills such as lateral movements, quick feet, and cone drills. On Tuesday, he focuses heavily on finishing his routes and improving his footwork. On Thursdays, he works on his strength and power with exercises such as squats and bench presses. Finally, Saturdays are for conditioning, where Shepard does cardio and circuits to stay in shape for the upcoming game.
Shepard’s Impact on the New York Giants
Sterling Shepard was brought to the Giants in the 2016 NFL Draft with the 40th overall pick and he has been a real asset to the team since then. With his reliable set of hands and route-running ability, Shepard has made a big impact on the New York Giants. He credited as “one of the most reliable receivers” in the NFL and continues to be productive and consistent. Shepard was a part of two of the most memorable performances in team history, the 2016 Baltimore Ravens win and the thrilling 2018 loss to the Carolina Panthers. His performance was even more notable given the fact that he was playing with great emotion that day because it was his first game after the passing of his father.
Shepard’s Health Issues
Unfortunately, Sterling Shepard has been dealing with health issues in recent times. In 2017, he was limited to parts of the offseason program with a sprained left ankle and the Giants restricted him to individual drills at the outset of practice. In 2018, he dealt with injuries such as a concussion and hamstring issues.
Fortunately, in 2019, Shepard managed to make a full recovery and played in every game that season. He also set career highs in receptions (66), receiving yards (872) and touchdowns (four). He also ran the ball three times for 10 yards.
It’s not hard to see why Sterling Shepard has been such a great addition to the New York Giants. He’s been a reliable receiver over his four-year career, racking up 3,282 yards and 19 touchdowns on 254 receptions. Despite some health issues over the past few years, he’s been able to make a full recovery and was productive in the 2019 season. With his great hands and route-running ability, Shepard has been an important part of the Giants’ success and will no doubt continue to do so in the years to come.
