How did the Giants -- and NFL -- miss Sterling Shepard's play that caused concussion?

Shepard fell to the ground after throwing a block on a run play

9/11/2019, 4:41 PM
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When Giants head coach Pat Shurmur told reporters during his Monday conference call that Sterling Shepard was in concussion protocol, many were stunned. 

When the heck did that happen on Sunday? 

Shepard played the entire game, and he wasn't brought up during the post-game press conference when Shurmur had to answer for how the Giants lost 35-17 to the Cowboys. 

 

But, thanks to The Daily News' Pat Leonard, we now know the play that caused it. 

Based on the GIF, it looks like Shepard sustained the injury while throwing a block on a run play to create a hole for Saquon Barkley. But, after landing the hit on the Cowboys defender, Shepard looked wobbly and fell to the ground. 

The Giants should have noticed their top receiver on the ground, and two linemen in Jon Halapio and Kevin Zeitler did as they're seen here pointing at him while looking at the sideline. 

Even worse is the fact that an NFL concussion spotter is on the sidelines for every game around the league. Their sole job is to be looking out for players that could have sustained a hit that caused a concussion. Clearly, Shepard wasn't seen by either party, and he was allowed to stay in the game. 

Shepard didn't show any symptoms of a concussion during the rest of the game, where he totaled six receptions on seven targets for 42 yards. But he still shouldn't have been out there, where things could have gotten much worse. 

Shepard will remain in concussion protocol this week, though Leonard did tweet out to say he was on the side at practice Wednedsay running. But it's too early to tell if No. 87 will be able to participate depending on how he responds to his injury -- one the Giants should have caught earlier. 

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