Giants’ WR Sterling Shepard “Doing Pretty Good” [UPDATED]

The New York Giants have, thankfully, avoided a serious long-term injury to Sterling Shepard. The second-year wide receiver said Friday there was “over-exaggeration” about the extent of his injury.

“I think it was a little bit of over-exaggeration. I saw something online that said I was in tears coming off the field, which was pretty amazing because you guys were two fields over and I had on a mirror visor, so that definitely scared some people,” Shepard said. “It definitely scared my mother, but we are doing pretty good. It’s moving along pretty well right now.”

When Shepard was carted off the field Wednesday with his shoe off his left foot it did look as if it could be serious injury.

“At first I was pretty worried. I have never rolled my ankle like that before and I felt it pop. That was the main thing that scared me,” Shepard admitted. “The initial pain wasn’t too good but now, we are moving along and it’s doing pretty good now.” ...

“I was kind of screaming, but that’s just because I have never felt that pain before. But yeah, it’s just like a basketball roll is what they are saying, a little bit of a bone bruise.”

A high ankle sprain, or something worse, could have shelved the second-year wide receiver for several weeks.

Coach Ben McAdoo said there is no timetable for Shepard to return. Shepard has not practiced the past two days. He said that “for sure” he will be ready for the regular-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

“I have some expectations, but that’s kind of different from what they are thinking, I think,” Shepard said. “I am forced to take it day by day, too, and just listen to what the trainers have to say and go with what they are talking about.”

Shepard went down during a passing drill. McAdoo said that Shepard “put his foot in the ground and rolled his ankle” while running a route.

Shepard caught 65 passes as a rookie. He is expected to team with Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall to give the Giants an explosive trio of wide receivers.

Here is video of Shepard leaving Quest Diagnostics Training Center after talking to reporters on Friday.

Here is Shepard chatting with former NFL star Steve Smith Sr. on Friday.