EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Linebacker Blake Martinez and wide receiver Sterling Shepard both suffered serious injuries last season. Martinez tore his left ACL against Atlanta on September 26. Shepard ruptured his left Achilles tendon vs. Dallas on December 19.
Both players agreed to restructured contracts that lowered their 2022 salaries. The Giants need to create room under the salary cap.
"It was definitely a difficult decision," said Martinez, who was a team captain in each of his first two seasons with the Giants. "But I think for me, it all came down to my family. I think being able to have the structure and the ability to have my daughters in the schools they're in and have that situation handled. I just love playing football and I knew what the coaches brought here from my time rehabbing here and those types of things and the interactions. I just felt confident knowing that I can go out there and prove the type of player I am coming back from my injury."
View photos from the voluntary offseason workout program at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
Blake Martinez (54)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Leonard Williams (99)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Daniel Jones (8)
Adoree' Jackson (22)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Jihad Ward
Daniel Jones (8)
Nick Gates (65)
Matt Peart (74)
Leonard Williams (99)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Blake Martinez (54)
Quincy Roche (95)
C.J. Board (18)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Shane Lemieux (66)
Leonard Williams (99)
Matt Breida
Richie James
Korey Cunningham (79)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Raymond Johnson III (91)
Saquon Barkley
Sandro Platzgummer (34)
DL Leonard Williams
WR Sterling Shepard
Jon Feliciano
Xavier McKinney (29)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Tae Crowder (48)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Davis Webb
Sterling Shepard (3)
Casey Kreiter (58)
Cam Brown (47)
Korey Cunningham
Richie James
Omari Cobb
Ricky Seals-Jones
Julian Love (20)
Chris Myarick
Elerson Smith
Darius Slayton (86)
Aaron Robinson (33)
Rodarius Williams (25)
Leonard Williams (99)
Raymond Johnson III (91)
Oshane Ximines (53)
Carter Coughlin (52)
Jamil Douglas
Carter Coughlin (52)
Jarren Williams (34)
Sandro Platzgummer
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Jake Hausmann
Antonio Williams
Jarren Williams (34), Darnay Holmes (30)
Austin Proehl
Ben Bredeson (68)
Travis Toivonen
Matt Breida, Antonio Williams
Tyrod Taylor
Justin Hillard
Oshane Ximines (53)
Niko Lalos (57)
Ricky Seals-Jones
Shane Lemieux (66)
Niko Lalos (57)
Oshane Ximines (53)
Cam Brown (47)
Blake Martinez (54)
Darius Slayton (86)
Shane Lemieux (66)
Korey Cunningham (79)
Antonio Williams
Jamil Douglas
Rysen John
Austin Proehl
Ben Bredeson
Matt Gono
Daniel Jones (8)
Matt Gono
Tyrod Taylor
Tyrod Taylor
Leonard Williams (99)
David Sills (84)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Justin Ellis
Leonard Williams (99)
Justin Ellis
Rysen John
Adoree' Jackson (22)
Adoree' Jackson (22)
David Moa
Sterling Shepard (3)
Carter Coughlin
David Sills (84)
Saquon Barkley (26), Daniel Jones (8)
Brian Lewerke
Trent Harris
Devery Hamilton
Jihad Ward
Austin Proehl
Sandro Platzgummer (34)
David Moa
Travis Toivonen
Mark Glowinski
TJ Brunson
Jihad Ward
Jamie Gillan
Ben Bredeson (68)
Shane Lemieux (66)
Kenny Golladay (19)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Jon Feliciano
Ricky Seals-Jones
Jamie Gillan
Sandro Platzgummer
Korey Cunningham (79)
Tyrod Taylor
Korey Cunningham (79)
Alex Bachman
Tyrod Taylor
Darnay Holmes (30)
Jamie Gillan
Tyrod Taylor
Sterling Shepard (3)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Matt Peart (74)
Kenny Golladay (19)
Matt Peart (74)
Daniel Jones (8)
Leonard Williams (99)
Ricky Seals-Jones
Collin Johnson (15)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Leonard Williams (99)
Kenny Golladay (19)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Jamie Gillan
David Moa (96)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
justin ellis
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Carter Coughlin
Oshane Ximines (53)
Elerson Smith
Rysen John
Max Garcia
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Ricky Seals-Jones
Gary Brightwell (37)
Ricky Seals-Jones
Rysen John
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Jamil Douglas
Korey Cunningham
Jake Hausmann
Jake Hausmann
Max Garcia
Korey Cunningham
Korey Cunningham
Jamil Douglas
Jamil Douglas
Matt Gono
Devery Hamilton
Oshane Ximines (53)
Oshane Ximines (53)
Oshane Ximines (53)
TJ Brunson
TJ Brunson
David Moa (96)
Cam Brown (47)
Cam Brown (47)
Niko Lalos (57)
Cam Brown (47)
Blake Martinez (54)
Cam Brown (47)
Blake Martinez (54)
Carter Coughlin (52)
Tae Crowder (48)
Quincy Roche (95)
Leonard Williams (99)
Justin Ellis
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Elerson Smith
Azeez Ojulari (51)
David Moa (96)
David Moa (96)
Niko Lalos (57)
Justin Ellis
Blake Martinez (54)
Justin Ellis
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Elerson Smith
Justin Hilliard
Niko Lalos (57)
Leonard Williams (99)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Niko Lalos (57)
Leonard Williams (99)
Shepard is a seven-year veteran who is the Giants' longest-tenured player.
"They wanted me here, I wanted to be here," he said. "We were able to work something out that made sense for both sides and I've moved on from it. Just looking forward to getting to know these guys and getting to know this playbook and trying to do my part and win games.
"It's tough, man, but I did the pros and cons and the pros outweigh the cons by a landslide. I did a lot of talking to my family and ultimately it was the best situation for me and my family. I was super happy that we were able to come to an agreement and if everything goes the way that I hope that it goes, hopefully I'll be here for a little bit longer. Like I said, I'm focused on right now, doing everything in my power to get better, get back on the field and stay on the field and learn this book right now. That's where my head is and where my focus is."
Both Martinez and Shepard avoided specifics when asked about the timetable for their return.
"For me right now, it's just focusing day by day, trying to get each checkpoint, doing the things the trainers have me doing for rehab and then all of the strength staff, what they have me doing in the weight room," Martinez said. "All I can say is it's going well and just excited to keep chopping wood and make that progress."
"I'm taking it day by day and just listening to the trainers, doing everything they ask of me," Shepard said. "I also do some extra stuff when I get home. I'm doing everything in my power to get back on the field and get back out there with my guys."
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