Sports

The Giants lose the game and Sterling Shepard against the Cowboys

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

The hopeful feelings the Giants engendered among themselves and their fanbase was momentarily suspended late Monday night at MetLife Stadium. As they were heading toward an eventual 23-16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, wide receiver Sterling Shepard, the longest tenured Giants player who has been with the team since they drafted him in the second round from the University of Oklahoma in the 2016 NFL Draft, tore the ACL in his left knee in what was a non-contact cause.

With 1:09 remaining in the game and on the Giants’ final offensive play, Shepard was running slowly between the yard line numbers and sideline, looking back at the action unfolding behind him when he suddenly grabbed his left knee and crumbled to the turf. The 29-yearold, who returned this season from a torn left Achilles tendon that ironically happened playing against the Cowboys in Week 15 last December, will be out the remainder of this season.

He also was sidelined for six games in the 2019 season with injuries, which included a concussion, and was out four games in 2020 dealing with turf toe among other ailments. One of the most well respected and popular Giants, Shepard was surrounded by his teammates and Cowboys players, all attempting to uplift the resilient 5-10, 195 pass catcher when he was placed on a cart to be taken for medical evaluation.

Shepard ended his season in Week 3 leading the 2-1 Giants with 24 targets by quarterback Daniel Jones and 154 receiving yards.

“To reiterate what I said yesterday, he’s a tremendous person,” offered Giants head coach Brian Daboll on Monday as reported on the team’s official website. “He worked so diligently to get back, and [I] feel terrible for him that he had that injury. He’s a big part of our team, and we’ll miss him out on the field.”

The Giants’ attempt to hold a 3-0 record for the first time since 2009 fell short as they lost to the Cowboys for the ninth time in the teams last 10 meetings. The score was tied 13-13 to start the fourth quarter. The Cowboys took the lead on a one-yard, onehanded touchdown catch by wide receiver CeeDee Lamb in the corner of the end zone from quarterback Cooper Rush with 8:30 left that concluded an 11-play, 89-yard drive.

Up 20-13 afterwards, they added a 44-yard field goal by Brett Maher with 5:58 remaining, countered by a 51yard field goal by the Giants’ Graham Gano at 3:37 to make it 23-16. With the Giants’ shaky offensive line unable to effectively protect Jones, as the QB was under siege by the Cowboys defense that recorded five sacks—three by defensive lineman Demarcus Lawrence— and 12 quarterback hits, there would be no comeback.

The Giants will host the 2-1 Chicago Bears in New Jersey this Sunday and travel to London to play the Green Bay Packers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Week 5 on Oct. 9.

Sterling Shepard, the longest tenured Giants player, tore the ACL in his left knee on Monday night in the Giants’ 23-16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys (Bill Moore photo)

The seasoned Tomlin and sophomore Saleh have similar concerns at QB

By VINCENT DAVIS

Special to the AmNews

With a 1-2 record to start this season, the New York Jets will be on the road to face the Pittsburgh Steelers, also 1-2, on Sunday. The Jets were thoroughly outplayed by the Cincinnati Bengals at home at MetLife Stadium this past Sunday, losing 27-12.

“It is frustrating as hell,” said Jets head coach Robert Saleh after the defeat.

Quarterback Joe Flacco has been filling in for Zach Wilson, who hasn’t played since suffering a torn meniscus and bone bruise in his right knee on Aug. 12 in the Jets’ preseason opener. But the 37-year-old veteran may return to backup status this weekend as the 23-year-old Wilson, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, could be ready for the Steelers.

“Maybe you guys know more than I do,” Flacco expressed to the media after going 28-52 for 285 yards, throwing two interceptions and losing two fumbles versus the Bengals. “I’m going to keep my head down and keep working and keep doing all I can for this team…”

Saleh did not give any certainties on Wilson. “I’m expecting him back, but until the doctors say so, I’m just going to say he’s being evaluated.”

The 43-year-old Saleh, in just his second year as a head coach, would sign up right now for a career like the 50-year-old Tomlin has built. Since taking over as the Steelers’ leading man on the sidelines in 2007, Tomlin has never had a losing season and led Pittsburgh to a Super Bowl XLIII victory, ten playoff runs, seven division titles, three AFC championship games, two AFC championship wins and two Super Bowl appearances. He holds the NFL record for most consecutive non-losing seasons (15) to start a career.

That streak could end this year. The Jets will take on one of the more flawed Steelers teams longtime head coach Mike Tomlin has led. They have dropped their last two games and haven’t had steady play at the quarterback position. Gone is 18-year veteran Ben Roethlisberger, who retired at the end of last season. His replacement, Mitch Trubisky, the second overall pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2017 draft, has yet to lift the Steelers’ offense. They are averaging just 272.7 yards per game, next to last in the league, and only 18 points per game.

Trubisky didn’t hold onto the Bears’ QB spot and wound up as a back-up last season with the Buffalo Bills. He was signed by the Steelers in March. The Steelers drafted quarterback Kenny Pickett from Ocean Township, New Jersey and the University of Pittsburgh with the No. 20 pick in the first round last April as their potential franchise quarterback. Many Steelers fans are already calling for the rookie to unseat Trubisky.

The Jets’ Robert Saleh, who is only in his second year as an NFL head coach, will match up with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Tomlin, one of football’s most successful coaches, this Sunday (Bill Moore photos)

Robert Saleh Mike Tomlin