Sterling Shepard brings energy and experience when the Bucs need it

TAMPA — Baker Mayfield was reminded Sunday of the strong chemistry and passing connection he has with Sterling Shepard.

But the Bucs quarterback admits he forgot how energetic his former Oklahoma receiver could be in the huddle.

“It’s fun,” Mayfield said. “He has a few screws loose in his head, but it’s just fun to have his energy in the group. He played a lot of ball. He’s obviously made a lot of progress.”

With No. 3 receiver Jalen McMillan inactive due to a hamstring strain and Trey Palmer sidelined with a concussion, Shepard stepped in and helped the Bucs win 33-16 over the Eagles.

His biggest play came after Philadelphia cut its deficit to two points in the third quarter.

Shepard lined up on the left side and delivered a double move to cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, who bit on Mayfield's pump fake. The result was a leaping 30-yard reception from Shepard.

Shepard finished the game with three catches for 51 yards, his most catches in 749 days, as he had 71 receiving yards on the New York Giants' Opening Day of 2022.

The road back for Shepard hasn't been easy, or, frankly, one that many NFL veterans may have agreed with.

Injuries destroyed Shepard's once promising career. A torn Achilles tendon ended his 2021 season three weeks early. A torn anterior cruciate ligament forced him to miss all but three games in 2022.

Last season, Shepard appeared in 15 games for the Giants but caught just 10 passes for 57 yards.

He thought his NFL career was over and, at 31, focused primarily on his family and getting his kids to school. But he stayed in shape in case an opportunity arose. Mayfield informed him of such a meeting with the Bucs in a text message in the spring.

However, training camp injuries and the drafting of McMillan prevented Shepard from finding a spot on the 53-man roster. Instead of retiring, he got to work and agreed to sign a contract as a training player.

That's why Sunday's game — and his first receptions of the regular season — were so special for Shepard.

“It felt great,” he said. “I tried to work at practice and wait for my chance and (Sunday) I got it, so I tried to maximize it and use everything I had.”

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How long will Shepard stay here? The Bucs can cut him from the practice squad again, and then they'll either have to place him on the 53-man roster or terminate his contract before he can return.

With both Palmer and McMillan expected to miss Thursday night's game in Atlanta, Shepard could play a key role as the No. 3 receiver. He played 50 snaps on Sunday, or 65% of the offensive plays.

“Right now he is still on the practice squad pending the status of the other two,” head coach Todd Bowles said Monday. “It’s not out of the question; We'll just have to see how everything goes.

“He is very smart and has a lot of experience. He can still play and play on all three courts. He is very fast. He is very safe. He is healthy. He's a damn good football player. It gives us an extra dimension, just like the other two.”

Shepard was still raving about his chance to be reunited with Mayfield on the field after Sunday's game. The quarterback completed 30 of 47 passes, including 12 of his first 13, for 347 yards and two touchdowns. He was also chasing points.

“He always surprises me,” Shepard said. “There were a few of those plays, I don’t know how he got out of them. But he just plays with so much heart and so much passion, and that's what I love about him because everyone thrives on it. He has such an infectious personality that it has a positive impact on the entire team.

“It really is a blessing. I told you, I feed on it be Energy. I missed that. I didn't feel that feeling. Well, I've had some people who had some energy, but with this guy it's just different. He plays with a chip on his shoulder every single play and that's how he comes into the game. I loved it, every moment of it.”

Injury update

The Bucs didn't have a walkthrough until Monday, but if they had held a practice, seven players would have missed it, according to an estimated injury report. The most serious of those included in the report was linebacker SirVocea Dennis, who left Sunday's game with a shoulder injury. Bowles called it “pretty bad.”

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