Eagles' Sheppard: one-play wonder

November 14, 1:15 AMPhiladelphia Eagles ExaminerGordie Jones

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  Lito Sheppard

There was another twist in the Lito Sheppard saga Thursday. Probably not a big one, given everything else that has happened.

But a twist nonetheless.

Sheppard, the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback relegated this year to reserve duty, was on the field for exactly one play Sunday against the Giants. That came when Asante Samuel got dinged in the third quarter and had to come off.

Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said Thursday that the plan going in was to only use Sheppard in an emergency, since he missed two days of practice last week with a strained groin. Johnson went on to say that he hadn’t even been sure Sheppard would be available until the morning of the game.

Sheppard left the stadium without comment Sunday, and didn’t seem eager to make a stink about his lack of run after practice Thursday.

“It’s cool,” he said. “I’m not going to make any biggie out of it.”

He admitted that he could see why the team might be inclined to go with Plan B – i.e., using Joselio Hanson in his place as the nickel corner, alongside Samuel and the other starter, Sheldon Brown – since he had been so limited, practice-wise (he worked only on Friday), and thus was not as familiar with the game plan as he would normally be.

But Sheppard also said he “wasn’t given any indicator” beforehand that he would not have his usual role. And he also said he was healthy enough to play.

“I felt like I was,” he said. “I wouldn’t have dressed if (it had been) otherwise. I think I declared that early enough in the week that they could have made adjustments (to the cornerback rotation).

Moreover, he said, “I think any player’s understanding is if they’re used to playing in the regular rotation, (and) you’re healthy and you’re dressed, you’re going to play in the same pattern you’ve been playing.”

But that wasn’t the case -- an indication, if nothing else, of how much of an afterthought Sheppard has become: So he tweaked his groin? OK, we don’t need him that badly.

There was an amusing sidelight to his brief appearance, a play in which he was not directly involved: According to Sheppard, Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress told the Eagles corner that the Giants were going to put his groin to the test by throwing a pass his way.

“I said, ‘Come on, man; I’m ready,’ ” Sheppard said. “It was funny.”

Samuel did not practice Thursday because of a hip injury, but will likely be ready for Sunday’s game in Cincinnati. Either way, Sheppard should see a great deal of time, according to Johnson, since the 1-8 Bengals use three wide receivers (Chad Johnson/Ochocinco, T. J. Houshmandzadeh, Chris Henry) so often.

“When you look at a team and what they like to do -- and Cincinnati is definitely a passing team; they get three and four wides out (on the field) a lot – I was excited,” Sheppard said. “But until the game actually comes and they actually put three or four receivers out there, you never know. But I’m preparing as if I’m definitely going to play a lot. That’s the way I’m approaching it.”

He will almost certainly be traded after this season. But his value continues to plummet, as it has from the moment the Eagles signed Samuel and announced that he, and not Sheppard, would start at left corner.

A two-time Pro Bowler for a fourth-round draft pick? That’s sort of what it looks like right now.