Sterling Shepard - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Effective in complementary role Shepard secured 39 of 53 targets for 371 yards and a touchdown while adding four rushes for 19 yards across 13 games during the 2025 regular season.

Impact The veteran wideout posted his most receptions and receiving yards since the 2020 season thanks to the Buccaneers' host of wide-receiver injuries during the first two-thirds of the season. However, the veteran only posted a 2-10 line on three targets after Week 12, and he was a healthy scratch for the final four games of the campaign. The string of absences likely brings Shepard's tenure in Tampa Bay to a close, as he'll turn 33 in February and will be an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

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JANUARY 6 • Associated Press

Healthy scratch for Week 18 Shepard (coach's decision) is inactive for Saturday's game against the Panthers, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Impact Shepard played a key role in the Buccaneers' offense for most of the year, but he will end up missing the final four games of the regular season. That absence has coincided with the returns of Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan from injured reserve, and Shepard will end the 2025 season with 39 catches (on 53 targets) for 371 yards and one touchdown while adding four carries for 19 yards across 13 games. The Buccaneers would clinch the NFC South division title with a win Saturday and a Falcons' loss to the Saints on Sunday, though Shepard is would be unlikely to play in the postseason, barring an injury or absence to Tampa Bay's wide receiver corps.

JANUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Healthy scratch Week 16 Shepard (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against Carolina, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Impact Shepard had a big role in Tampa Bay's passing game early in the campaign while the team dealt with multiple injuries among its wide-receiver corps. However, the veteran wideout didn't log any offensive snaps last week against Atlanta, which coincided with both Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan returning to action after long absences. Now that the Bucs' wideout room is almost fully healthy, Shepard may not have a role for most contests.

DECEMBER 21, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Jalen McMillan, Tristan Wirfs & More on NFC South Race | Press Conferences Hear from Tampa Bay Buccaneers T Tristan Wirfs, LB Anthony Walker Jr., WR Jalen McMillan, WR Sterling Shepard & CB Benjamin Morrison speak o...

DECEMBER 15, 2025 • BUCCANEERS.COM

Doesn't see field in loss Shepard didn't log any snaps during the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night.

Impact Shepard was active for the contest, but with Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan active and the rest of the Buccaneers' receiving corps also healthy, the veteran wideout failed to see the field for the first time all season. With both Tez Johnson and even Kameron Johnson running ahead of Shepard at the moment, the latter is a fantasy non-factor.

DECEMBER 13, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Non-factor again Sunday Shepard brought in his only target for five yards in the Buccaneers' 24-20 loss to the Saints on Sunday.

Impact Shepard was held to one catch and single-digit yardage for the second straight game, even though he played 42 snaps (57 percent). However, Baker Mayfield slogged through rainy conditions and completed under 50 percent of his passes while netting just 122 yards, so Shepard's line isn't as alarming within that context. Nevertheless, with the returns of Mike Evans (IR, collarbone) and Jalen McMillan (IR, neck) both appearing imminent, Shepard isn't likely to retain any relevance during the upcoming fantasy playoffs.

DECEMBER 9, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Minimal production in Week 13 win Shepard brought in one of two targets for five yards in the Buccaneers' 20-17 win over the Cardinals on Sunday.

Impact With Chris Godwin upping his involvement in his second back from an extended absence and Tez Johnson functioning as the clear No. 3 receiver, Shepard saw just 16 snaps (26 percent) and was minimally involved. The veteran wideout's drop in playing time was alarming, considering he'd played over 40 snaps in each of the previous three games. Moreover, with Mike Evans (IR, collarbone) reportedly making progress toward a return and Godwin likely to continue ramping up in coming games, Shepard may be consistently relegated to No. 4 receiver status down the stretch.

DECEMBER 2, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Three receptions in Week 12 loss Shepard brought in three of five targets for 12 yards in the Buccaneers' 34-7 loss to the Rams on Sunday night.

Impact Shepard tied for second in receptions and was third in targets on the night for the Buccaneers, but he finished with his second-lowest yardage total of the campaign. The veteran logged 41 snaps (59 percent) Sunday night despite Chris Godwin's return from a fibula injury, but Shepard appears the likeliest candidate between him and rookie Tez Johnson to see his role progressively dwindle as Godwin gets back up to full strength.

NOVEMBER 25, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard has incredible family-themed intro for SNF | Sporting News Sterling had the best intro.

NOVEMBER 24, 2025 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Performance Preview: A Prime-Time Star Turn for Sterling Shepard or Tristan Wirfs? Brianna Dix and Scott Smith go head to head once again in their weekly "pick to click" contest, this time picking two very different sorts o...

NOVEMBER 21, 2025 • BUCCANEERS.COM

Practices fully Thursday Shepard (shoulder) was a full practice participant Thursday.

Impact After beginning Week 12 prep as limited at Wednesday's walkthrough due to a shoulder issue, Shepard managed to handle every practice rep one day later, thereby clearing him for Sunday's game at the Rams. Meanwhile, fellow WR Chris Godwin (fibula) finally practiced fully for the first time since he was injured Week 5, and rookie first-rounder Emeka Egbuka (illness) remained limited.

NOVEMBER 21, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with shoulder issue Shepard was limited at Wednesday's walkthrough due to a shoulder injury.

Impact Shepard joined Chris Godwin (fibula) and Emeka Egbuka (illness) as limited participants to kick off Week 12 prep, and all three will have two more chances to practice in full this week before the Buccaneers potentially give them designations ahead of Sunday's game at the Rams. Tez Johnson, Ryan Miller and Kameron Johnson are the healthy wide receivers on the active roster at the moment.

NOVEMBER 20, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Tallies four catches in Week 11 Shepard recorded four catches (on five targets) for 54 yards and added a seven-yard carry during Sunday's 44-32 loss at Buffalo.

Impact With Chris Godwin (fibula) still sidelined and Mike Evans (collarbone) on injured reserve, Shepard continued to play a decent role in the Buccaneers' passing game, leading the team in receiving yards and ranking second to rookie WR Emeka Egbuka in receptions and targets. Shepard's yardage through the air Sunday marked his second-most of the campaign through 10 contests, but his volume as a receiver could dwindle as soon as next Sunday at the Rams if Godwin, who returned to practice this week, is cleared for game action.

NOVEMBER 16, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Three catches in Week 10 loss Shepard brought in three of four targets for 20 yards in the Buccaneers' 28-23 loss to the Patriots on Sunday.

Impact The veteran wideout's impact was limited despite the ongoing absences of Mike Evans (IR, collarbone/concussion) and Chris Godwin (fibula), and even though Shepard garnered a solid 65.0 percent snap share (45 snaps). Since posting a season-high 80 receiving yards back in Week 3 against the Jets, Shepard has a modest 19-142-1 receiving line on 25 targets over six subsequent games, so his appeal will remain limited to deep leagues and large-field DFS tournaments in a Week 11 road matchup against a typically stingy Bills secondary.

NOVEMBER 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Wide Receiver Duo Sterling Shepard & Tez Johnson | Bucs Players' Table Team Reporter Casey Phillips chats with Bucs WRs Tez Johnson and Sterling Shepard after Week 10 vs. the Patriots. They discuss WR Johnson's...

NOVEMBER 10, 2025 • BUCCANEERS.COM

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NOVEMBER 9, 2025 • FOX SPORTS

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Bucs' Release Week 10 Depth Chart: New Receiver Alignment With Mike Evans on injured reserve, Sterling Shepard is now listed among the team's starting receivers, while rookie Tez Johnson continues t...

NOVEMBER 4, 2025 • BUCCANEERS.COM

Minimal output in Week 8 win Shepard finished with an eight-yard reception on two targets in Sunday's 23-3 win over the Saints.

Impact With the Buccaneers placing Mike Evans (collarbone) on injured reserve prior to Sunday's game and with Chris Godwin (fibula) ruled out for the third contest in a row, Shepard appeared primed to see an expanded role in the Tampa Bay passing attack in a favorable matchup with the Saints. That ultimately didn't come to fruition, as the Buccaneers cruised to an easy win thanks to four Saints turnovers that created short fields for quarterback Baker Mayfield, who dropped back just 27 times on the day. Shepard was one of just five Tampa Bay pass catchers targeted in the win, with none eclipsing 43 receiving yards. Shepard ended up playing just 41 percent of the offensive snaps in the victory, and his role could be downsized further if Godwin and/or Jalen McMillan (neck) are able to return following the Buccaneers' Week 9 bye.

OCTOBER 29, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Filling No. 2 receiver role Sunday Shepard is projected to operate as the No. 2 receiver in Sunday's Week 8 matchup against the Saints due to the absences of Mike Evans (IR, collarbone/concussion) and Chris Godwin (...

Impact The veteran wideout started the Week 7 loss to the Lions working as the No. 3 receiver, but he bumped up a notch on the depth chart during the game when Evans exited with his pair of injuries. Shepard wound up with a season-high seven receptions on his seven targets against Detroit, albeit while netting only 25 receiving yards. Sunday, Shepard is due to begin the game as the No. 2 wideout, and he could certainly benefit from the defensive attention likely to be showered on rookie position mate Emeka Egbuka.

OCTOBER 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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OCTOBER 23, 2025 • Associated Press

Sterling Shepard Fantasy Week 8: Projections vs. Saints, Points and Stats, Start or Sit - Bleacher Nation Sterling Shepard and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play the New Orleans Saints and their 12th-ranked passing defense (206.3 yards conceded p...

OCTOBER 21, 2025 • BLEACHERNATION.COM

HIGHLIGHT: Robertson's signature punch results in fumble Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson strips Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard to set the Lions up with great field posi...

OCTOBER 21, 2025 • DETROITLIONS.COM

Does little with seven catches Shepard secured all seven targets for 25 yards in the Buccaneers' 24-9 loss to the Lions on Monday night.

Impact Shepard tied Cade Otton for the team lead in receptions with a figure that also served as the veteran receiver's season high, but he averaged minuscule 3.6 yards per catch. The Lions' extremely short-handed secondary significantly overperformed expectations against a Buccaneers offense that had been running hot, and Shepard therefore posted his third sub-30-yard tally of the season. Nevertheless, considering Mike Evans will be out for a significant amount of time due to the broken collarbone he suffered Monday night -- and Chris Godwin has now missed consecutive games with a fibula injury -- Shepard figures to remain in an expanded role for the foreseeable future.

OCTOBER 21, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Amik Robertson's signature punch results in Sterling Shepard fumble Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson strips Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard with his signature "Peanut Punch" to set...

OCTOBER 21, 2025 • NFL.COM

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