The New York Giants dodged a bullet this week with Sterling Shepard's ankle injury.
The receiver sat out practice Friday, but wasn't in a boot and appeared to walk fine while heading to speak to the media. Video evidence:
After rolling the ankle Wednesday and wearing a boot Thursday, Shepard said the injury is progressing well. The second-year pro left little doubt he'd be fully recovered when the regular season opens.
"Oh yeah, I'll be ready for Week 1," Shepard said, via NFL Network's Kimberly Jones.
Shepard is day to day with the injury, and the Giants won't push the slot receiver back quickly.
"If I feel well enough to [play] in preseason games I will," he said.
The young slot receiver said the initial report that he had tears in his eyes after rolling the ankle was erroneous.
Shepard is expected to have a big year for Big Blue from the slot position, a job he swiped from Victor Cruz as a rookie. The 23-year-old tallied 65 receptions for 683 yards and eight touchdowns in 2016.
With Shepard in the slot and Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall on the outside, to go with rookie Evan Engram at tight end, the Giants have plenty of weaponry for Eli Manning's passing attack in 2017.