Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Nabs first TD reception of 2025
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Shepard finished with four receptions on five targets for 24 yards and a touchdown while losing five yards on his only rushing attempt in Sunday's 38-35 win over Seattle.
Shepard overcame a minor foot injury early in the practice week in order to suit up without restrictions in Sunday's win. The 32-year-old continued serving as the Buccaneers' No. 3 receiver, occupying the vacancy left by Mike Evans (hamstring) in Weeks 4 and 5 after filling in for Chris Godwin over the team's first three contests. If Evans remains sidelined for next Sunday's tilt against the 49ers, Shepard can continue providing value in Week 6 for those in deeper formats.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Full practice Thursday
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Shepard (foot) practiced in full Thursday.
After missing Wednesday's walkthrough due to a foot injury, Shepard was able to handle every practice rep one day later, clearing him for Week 5 action. With Mike Evans (hamstring) expected to be out again Sunday in Seattle, Shepard is poised to remain the No. 3 wide receiver in the Buccaneers offense behind Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka, a role that's amounted to 13 catches (on 19 targets) for 167 yards and no touchdowns for him in four games this season.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: DNP due to foot issue
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Shepard didn't participate in Wednesday's walkthrough due to a foot injury, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Shepard has been regularly playing at least 60 percent of the offensive snaps this season, and this past Sunday's loss to the Eagles was no different. While Mike Evans (hamstring) was sidelined, Chris Godwin (foot) made his season debut, and Shepard finished third in snap share (62 percent) behind rookie Emeka Egbuka (89 percent) and Godwin (81 percent). The result, at least for Week 4, was modest for Shepard (2-14-0 on four targets), and he now is dealing with a health concern. Evans still wasn't practicing as of Wednesday and is expected to miss multiple games, so if Shepard is able to prove his health by the end of the week, he should resume his standing as the Buccaneers' No. 3 WR on Sunday in Seattle.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Pair of catches in Week 4 loss
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Shepard brought in two of four targets for 14 yards in the Buccaneers' 31-25 loss to the Eagles on Sunday.
The veteran wideout continued to operate the No. 3 receiver, as Chris Godwin's season debut was offset by Mike Evans' absence due to a hamstring injury. Shepard saw a significant downturn from his season-high 80-yard output in Week 3, but given his chemistry with Baker Mayfield, he could be more productive in a Week 5 road matchup against the Seahawks.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Week 4 Waiver Priority List
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Mike Evans (hamstring) could miss multiple weeks, and we don't know when Chris Godwin (ankle) will play. Emeka Egbuka should get fed, and the injuries should help Cade Otton (see more below). But you should look at Shepard in deeper leagues. He just had four catches for 80 yards on five targets in Week 3 against the Jets, and he's worth adding in deeper leagues for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Hits for season-high 80 yards
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Shepard caught four of five targets for 80 yards in Sunday's 29-27 win over the Jets.
Shepard put together his best game of the season, finishing just five yards short of rookie Emeka Egbuka's team-high total. The veteran slot receiver has an 11-153-0 line on 15 targets through Tampa Bay's first three games while taking advantage of the absence of Chris Godwin (ankle), but even if Godwin is ready to make his season debut in Week 4 against the Eagles, Shepard's role may not decrease immediately as Mike Evans left Sunday's win in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Remains involved in Week 2 win
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Shepard secured all four of his targets for 34 yards in the Buccaneers' 20-19 win over the Texans on Monday night.
The veteran wideout finished tied for third in receptions and enjoyed the same slotting in receiving yards while playing 60 of 88 offensive snaps. A relationship with Baker Mayfield that dates back to their college days, and that served as the foundation for Shepard being coaxed out of semi-retirement last season, has paid off over the first two games of the new campaign, as he sports a 7-73-0 line on 10 targets. The 32-year-old will continue filling in as the No. 3 receiver while both Chris Godwin (ankle) and Jalen McMillan (neck) remains sidelined.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Three grabs to open season
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Shepard brought in three of six targets for 39 yards in the Buccaneers' 23-20 win over the Falcons on Sunday.
The veteran receiver flashed his chemistry with college teammate Baker Mayfield on a few occasions, and Shepard actually finished second on the Bucs in targets for the afternoon. Shepard's final catch was the most important, as he made a clutch 10-yard grab on third-and-9 during what would turn out to be the game-winning drive. Given the short-handed nature of Tampa Bay's receiving corps for the moment, Shepard has some appeal in deep formats as the current No. 3 receiver -- he logged 37 snaps to Tez Johnson's eight Sunday -- in an offense helmed by a quarterback with whom he has long-established rapport.
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Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Paces air attack in win
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Shepard brought in all three targets for 47 yards in the Buccaneers' 17-14 preseason win over the Steelers on Saturday night.
Shepard led the Buccaneers in receiving yards on a night when Mike Evans once again rested and Jalen McMillan exited with neck and head injuries. The veteran opened the game with the first-team offense, recording a seven-yard grab on the opening drive from Teddy Bridgewater and subsequently adding 13- and 27-yard catches on Tampa Bay's third possession. Shepard's surprisingly serviceable showing during the 2024 regular season (32-334-1 across 14 games) and a working relationship with Baker Mayfield that dates back to college should give him a solid path to a roster spot again, and his performance Saturday certainly didn't hurt his chances.
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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: 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.
