Team news: New York Giants | Page 14

New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard suffered what is believed to be a serious left knee injury, multiple sources told ESPN, after Shepard had initial tests following Monday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys.

The noncontact injury happened in the final minutes of New York's 23-16 loss to Dallas. A final diagnosis will come Tuesday morning, when Shepard undergoes more tests, but the fear is that his season is over.

Related players: Wan'Dale Robinson, Kadarius Toney, Richie James, David Sills, Darius Slayton, Kenny Golladay

With Robinson still out and Toney, Slayton and Golladay on the outside looking in, James and Sills look to be the team's top-two targets right now. Robinson is expected to return soon and could very well slide into a key role. He started for the G-men in Week 1. Unless the Giants look somewhere outside the team, it appears they may be forced to increase the roles of Toney, Slayton and/or Golladay.

New York Giants wide receiver Kenny Golladay took just two snaps against the Carolina Panthers in Week 2 and he’s not happy about it.

Following Wednesday’s practice, Golladay met with reporters and expressed his frustration. He also wouldn’t rule out a trade request somewhere down the line should his role not increase.

Related players: Sterling Shepard, Wan'Dale Robinson, Kadarius Toney, Richie James, David Sills, Darius Slayton

As we reported yesterday, the Giants are looking for WR help instead of playing Golladay. Our story on Tuesday said Golladay could even end up as a healthy scratch in the near future. His contract makes him difficult to trade, and cutting him would cost the Giants at least $25 million in dead cap space. Instead, the Giants are playing the likes of James and Sills. Shepard led the way with six catches but just 34 yards. Tony had just two catches for zero yards and also seems to be in the doghouse. It also seems the current Giants brass doesn't want to play the guys they inherited. Robinson, the team's second round pick, could be in store for a lot of playing if can can get back from a knee injury.

Because Kenny Golladay has a $21.2 million salary cap figure, a trade would be extremely difficult to pull off unless the Giants pay a major portion of his salary to unload him. If the Giants cut him, they would have $25 million in dead money. So, this awkward relationship is expected to continue.

A healthy scratch could be in the offing next for Golladay.

Related players: Sterling Shepard, Wan'Dale Robinson, Kadarius Toney, Richie James, David Sills, Darius Slayton

The story said the Giants are looking for WR help. Slayton, who recently accepted a pay cut, played one snap against Carolina. Shepard was the leading receiver with six receptions for 34 yards on 10 targets. Golladay played two snaps in Week 2. But, the Giants averaged just 5.1 yards per pass attempt by quarterback Daniel Jones, the story went on to say. Robinson, who is currently hurt, could be a factor if he can get back in the lineup. The Giants brass seems to be playing their guys right now, and not forcing a high-priced, inherited contract like Golladay's into the lineup just because he's making money.

Kadarius Toney has landed on the injury report, limited with a hamstring issue.

Related Players: Sterling Shepard, Kenny Golladay, Richie James, Wan'Dale Robinson

Wan'Dale Robinson was a DNP for Thursday's practice, so if Toney finds himself with an injury designation or generally residing in the Giants doghouse, the starting 3WR set will once again be Sterling Shepard, Kenny Golladay, and Richie James. Daniel Jones is receiving no favors from New York's skill position group outside of Saquon Barkley and, as such, is currently ranked as 4for4's QB23.

Giants and WR Darius Slayton agreed to paycut that will keep him on team source says. Drops his salary from $2.54m to league min ($965k). Saves Giants about $1.6 against cap. Slayton has a chance to earn some back with playtime incentives. He’ll be on the field for practice today.

Related players: Kadarius Toney, Wan'Dale Robinson, Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard

Slayton was excused from practice Tuesday and there was speculation he was getting released. Slayton will have to some work to do to climb the depth chart and earn playing time.

Giants WR Darius Slayton was not at practice. His absence was excused by the team, per source.

Related players: Kadarius Toney, Wan'Dale Robinson, Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard

The tweet went on to say, for the sake of connecting dots, Blake Martinez was excused from practice last week and was released a day later. It's unclear if Slayton's situation will have a similar outcome, the tweet added. The Giants have been rumored to be making changes at WR. The team seems to be stuck with Golladay and his contract and youngsters Toney and Robinson probably aren't going anywhere, which could mean Shepard or Slayton end up on the roster bubble at some point. The Giants WR situation is one to watch once the season starts and roles are sorted out.

Though his development slowed as the summer moved along, second-round pick Wan'Dale Robinson is slated to start the season in the slot, apparently bumping Sterling Shepard down the pecking order.

Related Players: Kadarius Toney, Darius Slayton

Robinson's -0.2 average depth of target in the preseason portends a Rondale Moore-type rookie season, so let's hope the team was simply being vanilla with his usage to avoid tipping their hat. Regardless of who logs the most snaps from the slot this season, the Giants' receiving group leaves much to be desired.

The Philadelphia Eagles are trading former first-round receiver Jalen Reagor to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2023 seventh-round pick and a 2024 conditional fourth-round selection, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday, per sources.

Reagor was taken with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2020 draft.

Related players: Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, K.J. Osborn, Ihmir Smith-Marsette

Reagor needed a fresh start as he never was able to take off in Philly as a first round pick. Ironically, the Eagles passed on Jefferson that year and drafted Reagor instead, and now the two are teammates. Reagor could battle for a WR3 or WR4 spot with the Vikings but will have a way to go before being fantasy relevant.

Daboll said Kadarius Toney is “improving.” He had a good practice yesterday. They’ve ramped him up the last few weeks. “Hopefully he’ll be ready” for Week 1.

Related players: Wan'Dale Robinson, Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton

Toney can't seem to stay on the field so far through his young career. When he has been healthy, he's certainly flashed potential. As we point out in his bio, he's actually targeted pretty frequently whenever he was on the field. In fact, he was fifth in targets per route run among the 105 receivers with at least 38 targets and was 11th in yards per route run in that same sample. With Golladay, Shepard and Slayton having their own issues, Toney has a chance to emerge as the team's WR1, perhaps along with the rookie Robinson. The Giants WR situation is a fluid one at the moment.