Giants' Sterling Shepard talks Super Bowl goal amid latest return

New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard is thinking about a future Super Bowl Sunday amid his recovery from his latest physical setback. 

"We have to work our way to get back to a playoff team, but that’s not ultimately the goal for us. Our ultimate goal is to put a banner up here," Shepard explained after Sunday's practice, according to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. "It was great making the [2022] playoffs. It’s been a while … but last year was a wash for us and we’re a completely different team. I’m looking forward to what we’ve got." 

Shepard, of course, wasn't part of New York's playoff run as an active player last fall because he failed to finish three complete games before he went down with a torn ACL in his left knee last September. In total, injuries have limited the 30-year-old to just 10 contests across the past two campaigns. 

An injured Shepard served as a mentor and somewhat of an extra coach who helped prepare younger teammates for January postseason matchups at the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles. Grant Gordon of the NFL's website noted that Shepard stayed with the Giants via a one-year contract with a base salary of $1.3M, but Dunleavy mentioned that deal includes zero guarantees as the veteran competes with multiple newly-acquired pass-catchers for a roster spot. 

"I control what I can control and that’s staying on the field — and when I’m on the field, doing something [productive]," Shepard said about his mindset this summer. "I don’t worry about other stuff. I don’t worry about how it’s going to shake out. I just worry about where my feet are right now. What can I do to get better?" 

Shepard was only activated from the physically unable to perform list on Sunday, and it's unclear how many snaps he'll see throughout the preseason that begins for the Giants when they face the Detroit Lions on Aug. 11. For now, he pointed out that he is being "smarter in what I allow myself to do" instead of trying to rush himself back into action. 

While that's understandable, Shepard eventually will have to prove he's worthy of more than an unofficial role on the staff of head coach Brian Daboll before New York's Week 1 home game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 10.