Giants' Sterling Shepard shares blunt take on role in offense

New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard didn't dance around the issue when asked about his lack of playing time ahead of Monday's home game versus the 2-1 Seattle Seahawks. 

"The writing is really on the wall, man," Shepard told Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. "It don’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. I just know I got to be ready. Being in this game, this is my eighth season, been around a lot so you kind of know every different situation that can come about. I’ve seen it the other way around where guys get into a pissed-off attitude and their number’s called and they’re not ready." 

Shepard suffered a torn ACL in his left knee last September and then signed a one-year contract with a base salary of $1.3M this past offseason to remain with the Giants. He played a total of just 26 snaps across the team's first three games and recorded only two snaps in last Thursday's 30-12 blowout loss at the San Francisco 49ers. 

As noted by ESPN stats, offseason acquisitions Darren Waller and Parris Campbell lead the Giants with lackluster receiving stats heading into the weekend. Waller has 12 catches for 132 yards, while Campbell has caught 11 passes for 47 yards. To compare, Shepard has a single reception for four yards this season. 

Shepard was with the Giants when they spent a first-round draft pick on Daniel Jones in 2019 and seemingly could serve as somewhat of a security blanket for the struggling quarterback thanks to the chemistry they built up over a handful of seasons. Whether or not the 30-year-old will receive additional opportunities when 1-2 Big Blue hosts Seattle remains to be seen. 

"I feel like I can help," Shepard added. "I pray for the guys’ success and what we’re working towards. It’s not that I think anybody that’s in those positions can’t do it because I believe all those guys can play at a high level. I feel like if it’s my time it’s gonna be my time." 

If Shepard's time doesn't come soon, he and the Giants may need to have a difficult conversation ahead of the Oct. 31 trade deadline.