Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Staying in Tampa Bay
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Shepard is re-signing with Tampa Bay for one season, according to Buccaneers GM Jason Licht.
Known for a promising career that was derailed by a series of severe injuries, Shepard left the Giants for the first time last year and ended up spending much of 2024 as Tampa Bay's No. 3 or 4 receiver. He'll likely enter camp somewhere between fourth and sixth on the depth chart, unless Chris Godwin's recovery from an ankle dislocation comes along slower than expected. Godwin, Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan are locked in as the team's top three wide receivers, leaving the likes of Shepard, Trey Palmer and Rakim Jarrett to compete for depth roles.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Solid as reserve option in '24
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Shepard, who was active for Sunday night's 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders but did not log any touches over 27 snaps, finished the 2024 regular season with 32 receptions for 334 yards and a touchdown on 51 targets along with eight rushes for 69 yards across 14 games.
The veteran wideout was signed partly due to his college connection with Baker Mayfield, and Shepard ended up proving he still had something left in the tank after three injury-hampered and mostly ineffective seasons to cap off his long tenure with the Giants. Shepard ended up playing a bigger role than first envisioned due to Chris Godwin's season-ending ankle injury, recording at least four catches in four games and exceeding 40 receiving yards on four occasions as well. Shepard's season-long reception and receiving yardage totals outpaced the combined 23 catches and 211 yards he'd mustered in his final two Giants campaigns in 2022 and 2023, while his eight rush attempts represented a new career high. Shepard once again will be an unrestricted free agent come the new league year in March, and it's possible the Buccaneers opt to move on considering Godwin's expected return and Jalen McMillan's emergence over the course of his rookie year.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Cleared to play
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Shepard (foot/knee) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Commanders.
Shepard was a full practice participant Friday, after limited sessions the previous two days. He figures to fill his usual role as the No. 3 receiver, coming off a quiet Week 18 performance in which he got just two targets despite playing 66 percent of snaps.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Remains limited at practice
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Shepard (foot/knee) was a limited practice participant Thursday.
Shepard maintained his activity level from Wednesday's walkthrough, giving him one more opportunity to return to full participant this week. Friday's injury report will reveal whether or not he heads into the weekend with a designation for Sunday night's wild-card game versus the Commanders.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Logs limited practice
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Shepard was a limited participant in practice Wednesday due to foot and knee injuries.
Shepard returned from a one-game absence due to a hamstring injury in Tampa Bay's Week 18 win over the Saints. He played 66 percent of offensive snaps and secured one of two targets for 11 yards in the win, but he's now dealing with a new pair of health concerns heading into Sunday's wild-card game against the Commanders. Shepard may need to put in a full practice by Friday to avoid taking a designation into the postseason opener.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: One catch in return
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Shepard (hamstring) brought in one of two targets for 11 yards in the Buccaneers' 27-19 win over the Saints on Sunday.
Shepard made his return from a one-game absence but had a quiet game during an afternoon on which the Saints made the Buccaneers' air attack work for every yard. The veteran wideout finished last in catches on the Bucs while also tying for the fewest amount of targets, but Shepard's experience could be key during a postseason run that begins with a wild-card matchup against the Commanders next Sunday night.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Suiting up Sunday
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Shepard (hamstring) is active for Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the Saints, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Shepard was limited in practice throughout the week after sitting out the Week 17 game against the Panthers, and he apparently corroborated his health sufficiently to garner active status for Tampa Bay's must-win regular-season finale. Shepard's return to the No. 3 receiver spot Sunday will thrust Ryan Miller back into a No. 4 role versus New Orleans.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Questionable after limited practice
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Shepard (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Saints.
Shepard's hoping to suit up after being limited in all three of Tampa Bay's practices during the week. If the veteran wideout takes the field, he'll likely work as the third option in Tampa Bay's receiving corps behind Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan. The Buccaneers would secure a playoff berth with a win.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Stays limited at practice
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Shepard (hamstring) was limited at Thursday's practice.
With back-to-back capped sessions under his belt this week, Shepard appears as if he has a chance to put an end to a one-game absence Sunday against the Saints. Ultimately, Friday's injury report may provide a sense of his odds to do so. If he's able to suit up this weekend, Shepard likely would resume his role as the Buccaneers' No. 3 WR behind Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan, which has amounted to a 15-157-0 line on 24 targets in five appearances since the team's Week 11 bye.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Limited Wednesday
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Shepard (hamstring) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday.
Sidelined for this past Sunday's win over the Panthers due to hamstring and foot injuries, Shepard is listed with only the first health concern as the Buccaneers begin Week 18 prep. How he fares on the field Thursday and Friday likely will determine whether or not he enters the weekend with a designation for Sunday's game versus the Saints.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Out for Week 17
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Coach Todd Bowles said Friday that Shepard (hamstring/foot) has been ruled out for Sunday's game versus the Panthers, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Shepard exited in the third quarter of this past Sunday's contest at Dallas due to a hamstring injury, which, combined with the foot issue that he dealt with last week, will keep him sidelined Week 17. The Buccaneers' receiving corps Sunday will be composed of Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan, Ryan Miller, Trey Palmer and Rakim Jarrett. As for Shepard, he'll focus on getting healthy for a Week 18 matchup with the Saints.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Doesn't practice Thursday
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Shepard (hamstring/foot) didn't take part in practice Thursday.
Shepard has yet to mix into drills this week due to the hamstring injury that forced him out of this past Sunday's loss at Dallas and also the foot issue he tended to last week. Friday's practice report may shed some light on his odds to suit up Sunday versus the Panthers, but Ryan Miller likely would bump up the WR pecking order behind Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan if Shepard is limited or sidelined this weekend.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Sits out practice Wednesday
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Shepard (hamstring/foot) is listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report.
Shepard exited this past Sunday's game in Dallas due to a hamstring injury and didn't return. He also dealt with a foot issue in advance of that contest and now is listed with both health concerns to kick off Week 17 prep. As a result, Shepard's status will be one to monitor as the week continues see if he may be in danger of missing Sunday's contest against the Panthers.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Ruled out for rest of SNF
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Shepard (hamstring) won't return to Sunday's game against the Cowboys.
Shepard came up lame at the end of a 14-yard run in the third quarter and grabbed at his hamstring. He was ruled out shortly thereafter. Shepard caught one of three targets for 20 yards prior to the injury but also had two drops, including one that hit him right in the numbers on fourth down in the first quarter.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Ready for Week 16
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Shepard (foot) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game at Dallas, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Ahead of a Week 15 matchup with the Chargers, Shepard managed just one limited practice (Friday) due to a foot injury but still suited up this past Sunday, earning a 50 percent snap share and catching his only target for 16 yards. This time around, he sat out Wednesday but followed it up with back-to-back capped sessions due to the same health concern. With his status cleared for Week 16, Shepard will remain the No. 3 WR behind top options Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Limited Thursday
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Shepard (foot) practiced on a limited basis Thursday.
Shepard thus has made a bit of progress after sitting out Wednesday's session due to a foot injury and even is ahead of last week's practice regimen, when he didn't get back on the field until Friday as a limited participant. This Friday's practice report will reveal whether or not the wideout enters the weekend with a designation for Sunday's contest in Dallas.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Still working through foot injury
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Shepard (foot) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice report.
Shepard was able to play through the foot issue in this past Sunday's 40-17 win over the Chargers, though he played just 48 percent of the Buccaneers' offensive snaps and finished with one catch for 16 yards. The veteran wide receiver should be able to play against the Cowboys this Sunday, so long as he's able to practice in some capacity by Friday. Shepard has accumulated 14 catches (on 21 targets) for 137 yards in the four games since Tampa Bay's Week 11 bye.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Records one catch in win
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Shepard brought in his only target for a 16-yard gain in the Buccaneers' 40-17 win over the Chargers on Sunday.
Shepard played through the foot issue that had hampered him during the practice week, but he took a back seat to Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan during the high-scoring win. However, Shepard still logged a solid 32 snaps and remains firmly entrenched in the No. 3 receiver role heading into a Week 16 road matchup against the Cowboys.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Suiting up Sunday
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Shepard (foot) is active for Sunday's Week 15 game against the Chargers, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Shepard was trending upward entering the weekend after managing to get in a limited practice Friday, and his availability is now confirmed. The veteran wideout has settled in nicely as a complementary pass-catching option in the wake of Chris Godwin's season-ending ankle injury, recording a 21-194-0 line on 33 targets over the last six contests.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Trending toward playing Week 15
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Shepard, who is questionable for Sunday's matchup versus the Chargers due to a foot injury, is expected to suit up, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Shepard popped up on the injury report Wednesday due to a foot issue and didn't practice in either of Tampa Bay's first two sessions this week. However, he was able to participate in a limited fashion Friday, and he's expected to be officially cleared to play Sunday when the Buccaneers post their inactive list 90 minutes before the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. Shepard has increased his production since the Buccaneers' Week 11 bye, tallying 13 receptions for 121 yards over the team's past three contests.
