Shepard wasn't on the ice for Wednesday's practice session due to a lower-body injury, Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post reports.
The severity of Shepard's injury isn't clear, but he was being evaluated by the Capitals' medical staff during Wednesday's practice. The 28-year-old started in Washington's preseason loss to the Bruins on Sept. 24, but if he's healthy for the start of the regular season, he'll likely head to the AHL, where he's had plenty of success.