Sterling Shepard: Thumb injury “best-case,” aims for Week 1

Amidst a torrent of bad news, what rookie Darius Slayton called a “dark cloud” over the New York Giants wide receiver position, the only current ray of sunshine is the optimism that Sterling Shepard can return quickly from the fractured thumb he suffered on Thursday.

Shepard said the break wasn’t bad and that it was the “best-case” scenario.

“I was very relieved,” Shepard said. “Now I’ve given myself a shot to be able to play Week 1. Also I get to get out there and catch the ball, hopefully in a couple of weeks.

“I’m listening to the trainers. Whatever they’ve got me doing.”

With Corey Coleman out for the year, Golden Tate facing a four-game suspension, Alex Wesley on PUP and Slayton and Brittan Golden out with injuries the Giants can usee a bit of good news at the receiver position.

Shepard said he broke the thumb twice in high school.

Shepard, sporting only the tiniest of protection on his injured left thumb, participated in some of the individual drills on Friday. He ran routes on air and did catch a few balls with just his right hand.

“I want to be around the guys. I don’t want to just sit there all through camp,” Shepard said. “My legs work perfectly fine, so I can do everything but catch the ball.”

Shepard broke the thumb when a pass hit the tip of his finger.

“I knew right away I broke it. I’ve broken this thing before so I knew what it felt like,” Shepard said.