NY Giants’ Sterling Shepard to test toe before Eagles game

Wide receiver Sterling Shepard was activated by the NY Giants head of Thursday night’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles

The NY Giants’ offense might be getting a significant boost in Thursday night’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Sterling Shepard was officially activated off injured reserve Thursday afternoon, and as NFL Network reports, the hope is that he will be able to play.

Activating Shepard was a necessary step, because it allows him to go through pre-game warm ups as a possible member of the 53-man roster. Shepard, head coach Joe Judge, and the Giants’ medical staff can determine at that time whether Shepard is ready to return.

In addition to Shepard, the Giants also activated wide receiver Alex Bachman and linebacker Trent Harris to the 53-man roster.

Shepard returned to practice for the first time this week after being placed on injured reserve when he suffered turf toe against the Chicago Bears back in Week 2.

Judge believed this week that Shepard was trending in the right direction towards returning.

“Yeah, I think we’re a little bit closer than we were last week,” Judge said. ” Yeah, I think we’re a little bit closer than we were last week.”

Last season, Shepard caught 57 passes for 576 yards and three touchdowns, while averaging a career-low 10.1 yards per receptions in 10 games.

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones said Tuesday that getting Shepard back would be a big boost for the offense, particularly ahead of a critical division game.

“It would be great,” Jones said. “He’s obviously a special player and can do a lot of different things. It would be great to have him back.”

Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.