Giants defensive end Jabaal Sheard plays the field during an NFL game against the Bengals on Sunday in Cincinnati. Credit: AP/Aaron Doster
Jabaal Sheard started the season on his couch in South Florida watching football for the first time in decades.
"Just being a dad," the outside linebacker said of his whereabouts in early September. "Living the normal life, I guess."
Niko Lalos, who’d just finished his first NFL training camp, was on the Giants’ practice squad at the time, trying to find a position group that was thin enough to afford him some reps, bouncing between the outside linebackers and defensive linemen and even the tight ends and fullbacks.