Sterling Shepard’s return to the New York area may have complicated a familiar path for Darius Slayton.
NFL insider Mike Garafolo reported Tuesday afternoon that Shepard signed with the Jets’ practice squad as the team tries to patch together a thin receiver group after a Week 1 injury to first-round rookie Omar Cooper Jr. With Tim Patrick on Injured Reserve, the Jets were down to four wideout options.
That move matters for Slayton, too. Shepard and Slayton spent five seasons together with the Giants in East Rutherford from 2019-203 before Shepard left for Tampa Bay in 2024. Now, with Shepard in the building, the Jets’ most obvious receiver-opening may no longer look quite as clean for his former teammate.
Slayton is still on the market after the Giants released him eight days after he initially made the 53-man roster and less than a week before the season opener. Before Shepard’s signing, the Jets looked like a natural fit.
The Jet Press’ Charlie Baduini recently framed Slayton as the best available answer for New York after Cooper’s injury, writing:
"The Jets may have no choice but to add a wide receiver this week ahead of their Week 2 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, and veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton may be the best available option."
Shepard’s addition changes that picture, at least a little. Still, the Jets aren’t the only team dealing with receiver problems. Ebony Bird’s Connor Burke linked Slayton to Baltimore after injuries to Zay Flowers and Ja’kobi Lane, saying:
"Slayton looks to be the best option on the market right now. If there’s mutual interest, the Ravens should definitely try to swing a deal to bring in another weapon for Lamar Jackson."
All of that only adds to the confusion around Slayton’s release. The Giants likely tested the trade market before moving on from him.
If there had been a real return available, Joe Schoen probably would have taken it instead of letting the longest-tenured Giant walk for nothing. Yesterday’s price isn’t today’s rate, though, and there are plenty of receiver-needy teams popping out of the woodwork.
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