The Giants designated Shepard (toe) for return from IR on Tuesday.

Related players: Darius Slayton, Golden Tate

Reports say Shepard has been working on the side during recent weeks and took part in drills Tuesday, so he could be close to a return. The bad news for owners is the Giants are on a short week and play at Philly Thursday night. He has 21 days to return to the roster and the Giants get 11 days after their game on Thursday.

Giants WR Sterling Shepard, knocked out yesterday with a toe injury, is believed to be dealing with turf toe, source said.

Related players: Darius Slayton, Golden Tate

He’ll have an MRI today, but that’s an ailment that generally causes a WR to miss some time, Rapoport went on to say. Looks like Slayton and Tate could be the Giants top two wideouts. The Giants are also dealing with the loss of RB Saquon Barkley.

Sterling Shepard won't return to Sunday's contest in Chicago due to a toe injury, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.

Related players: Darius Slayton, Golden Tate, Damion Ratley and C.J. Board

Shepard got hurt late in the first half, limping to the sideline and reaching at his left foot before limping to the locker room, per Leonard. After attempting to run a route on the Giants' first play of the third quarter, Shepard again made a visit to the locker room, and the team ruled him out a short time later. The Giants would turn to Slayton, Tate, Ratley and Board to handle WR reps if Shepard has to miss any time.

Golden Tate: If, as expected, the Giants employ two-tight end sets more frequently under OC Jason Garrett, a wide receiver’s playing time is going to get slashed. Tate figures to be the odd man out, since he primarily plays in the slot in three-receiver sets. That may limit Tate’s production, but he should remain a dependable outlet for Jones, particularly on third down.

Related players: Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard

The story went on to say Slayton was a pleasant surprise last season, as a fifth-round pick who emerged as a legitimate threat due to his speed. Slayton may not get 84 targets again if the rest of the Giants’ weapons stay healthy, but he remains the offense’s lone deep threat. The story added there will likely be some quiet games, but expect Slayton to provide a big-play element to the offense. Shepard looks to be the team's WR1.

Sterling Shepard has torched every Giants corner in camp according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. "The only lingering concern is if he’ll be able to avoid another concussion when the season starts," wrote Duggan.

Duggan started the WR breakdown of his Friday article by saying the depth chart remains intact. He added that Golden Tate has the ability to play longer than most wide receivers and Darius Slayton is not expected to have a sophomore slump despite a quiet camp.

Related Players: Golden Tate, Darius Slayton

There has been a groundswell of praise for Shepard during camp. His health, as well as Tate's, are key to second year QB Daniel Jones' growth. Slayton was his favorite target as a whole in 2019, but his targets dropped when one or both of Shepard and Tate were healthy. The trio should be targets at their lower ADPs. Do not expect them to stay low for very long as draft season continues to press on.

What Evan Engram cannot do, at least thus far, is stay healthy. He played in 11 games in 2018 and only eight last season, forced out with ligament damage in his foot that required surgery.

No one wants to talk much about what happens next with Sterling Shepard. He sustained two concussions last season that forced him out of six games. He dealt with a migraine issue earlier in his career. These are cumulative health concerns, and if Shepard continues to encounter head and concussion issues he will not make it through the length of his contract.

Related players: Daniel Jones

Despite the injury issues with both players, the talent is there. As a rookie in 2017, Engram had 11 receptions of 20 or more yards. In 2018, he averaged 8.7 yards after the catch per reception. That was second among all tight ends, behind only George Kittle. Shepard isn't a number-one WR, but he's a locker room asset and a nice compliment on the field. Having both healthy will be great news for Jones this year.

Tate has been practicing in full all week and now he should be fully ready for Monday's game against the Eagles. Eli Manning will have a full assortment of weapons against the Eagles' defense, as he's also expected to have Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram in the mix, along with Darius Slayton.