Giants Injury Update: Corey Ballentine, Sterling Shepard Continue to Make Progress

The Giants didn't have to file an injury report Wednesday, but head coach Pat Shurmur had an encouraging update on receiver Sterling Shepard and cornerback Corey Ballentinetwo players who have been in the protocol.

Because they don't play their next game until Monday night, they didn't have to file an official injury report.

Still, head coach Pat Shurmur offered some encouraging news about receiver Sterling Shepard and cornerback Corey Ballentine, two players who have spent multiple weeks in the concussion protocol.

Shepard, who suffered his second concussion of the season during a Week 5 game against Minnesota, practiced Monday and took part in contact for the first time since his injury.

"He had a contact practice, so that’s a good thing," Shurmur said of Shepard. "He’s still in the protocol, but he’s making good progress. We’ll see what the week brings and see if he’s available for Monday."

Ballentine, injured against the Patriots and who missed the last two games, also appeared to take a positive step forward in his progress by participating in some individual drills during the part of practice open to the media. But Ballentine could be at least another week away from returning.

In other injury news, the Giants have until next week to decide whether to activate cornerback Sam Beal from injured reserve. "He’s making good progress," Shurmur said of the second-year cornerback.

"We have until next Wednesday to make a final decision on him, and so we’ll just see, again, what the next week brings."

Receiver Russell Shepard, who has been on injured reserve since Sept, 26, is eligible to begin practicing next week, assuming the Giants plan to designate him for return from IR.

As is the case with Beal, the Giants would have 21 days to decide whether to give Shepard the second of their two "temporary IR" designations permitted every year.