There has been speculation that New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard could retire this offseason, but Shepard is not ready to announce any decision just yet.
During an appearance on The 2nd Wing Podcast, Shepard was asked about the retirement rumors and gave a rather diplomatic answer.
“I think it’s just too early to close the door on that now,” Shepard said, via Matt Hladik of The Spun. “Obviously, I’m content with what I’ve done with my career and where I’m at right now. There’s a lot of other stuff that goes into whether I’m not going to play or not. … It has to make sense for me and my family. My family is stable here. So many other decisions, but I’m not going to close that door this early.”
Shepard played in 15 games this season but had a very limited role, logging just 10 catches for 57 yards and a touchdown.
The 31-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of Oklahoma, was selected by the Giants in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
He enjoyed a solid rookie campaign, catching 65 passes for 683 yards and eight touchdowns. Injuries then limited him to 11 games in his second season, but in 2018, Shepard bounced back by hauling in 66 receptions for 872 yards and four scores.
Unfortunately, injuries would go on to define Shepard’s career.
Since playing in all 16 games in 2018, Shepard has never played a full campaign, averaging just 9.4 games per season since 2019.
As a result, Shepard’s production has suffered, and what once appeared to be a promising NFL career has been largely compromised.
Shepard will be a free agent this March, so he has likely played his final game with New York either way. Whether or not he signs with another team this spring remains to be seen.
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