TAMPA, Fla. — In the 2016 NFL Draft, Sterling Shepard was selected in the second round by the New York Giants. His transition to the NFL was seamless, as he quickly made an impact on the field. He totaled north of 500 yards in his first five seasons, including eight touchdowns his rookie year.
Unfortunately, Shepard's career has been marred by injuries. He faced various setbacks, including hamstring issues and a significant ACL tear that limited his playing time in 2020 and 2021.
After eight seasons with the Giants, New York and Shepard parted ways. Shepard thought his career might be finished. While he turned his attention to "daddy mode," he got a call from quarterback Baker Mayfield in the offseason. Due to the release of Deven Thompkins, the Bucs needed another receiver during OTAs. Mayfield and Shepard played together at Oklahoma and believed rekindling that connection would be a great thing entering the 2024 season.
After not making the initial 53-man roster, Shepard quickly has become a key player in this offense. With Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Kameron Johnson, Rakim Jarrett and Cody Thompson all facing injuries at various points, Shepard has been a necessary, veteran influence in the locker room.
Shepard speaks with sports director Evan Closky in this week's edition of The One Buc. The 10 Tampa Bay sports team airs this segment every Thursday at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 11 p.m.