Eli Apple, Sterling Shepard injury updates: Both rookies appear to be OK

The last thing anyone wanted to see Friday night were serious injuries to any members of the New York Giants. Thus, when first-round pick Eli Apple and second-round pick Sterling Shepard both headed to the locker room before halftime there had to be concern.

Well, to borrow a phrase from Shepard, don’t freak out. Neither injury appears to be serious. Both players returned to the Giants’ bench in full uniform during the third quarter and neither appeared to be in any serious discomfort.

Apple suffered what the Giants termed a “strained lower leg.”

“I kind of just tweaked it a little bit on special teams, punt return. Just got a little bit off balance and I was trying to like hold up the guy that was blocking and kind of just tweaked it, but I’m feeling fine. It’s just a lower leg strain, it’s gonna be fine,” Apple said. “It was just throbbing, kinda like just the outside of my knee. but it’s fine now, just gotta put some ice on it and have some good maintenance on it.”

Apple, a cornerback, had a fumble recovery and was active on both special teams and defense Friday night.

“It was great. It was a lot of fun, for sure. Just special teams and a lot of running and all that stuff but it was fun being out there with the guys,” Apple said. “I think I played okay. I played a little out of control sometimes. I could be a little better just with my technique and special teams as well, just keeping my attention to detail is one of the things, so just gotta fix it.”

Shepard, a wide receiver, had just one catch, an impressive diving one for 24 yards. He was open on the Giants’ first series for what might have been a touchdown, but quarterback Ryan Nassib overthrew him.

Shepard left the game with a sore groin.

“I feel good,” he said. “It’s just sore from practice, but it’s all good now.

“It’s nothing too serious, so don’t freak out.”

Other injuries

H-Back Will Johnson left the game with a burner. Wide receiver Geremy Davis, who got first-team reps with Odell Beckham Jr. sitting the game out, suffered a hamstring injury.