Sterling Shepard’s next step forward will take him off the sidelines and into the huddle.

The Giants’ top wide receiver reached Step 5 of the five-step NFL-sanctioned protocol for returning from a concussion. Shepard participated in football-specific drills (Step 4) last week, but now it appears, barring a setback, he will return from a three-game absence Monday night against the Cowboys.

“It’s just a matter of time,” coach Pat Shurmur said after Wednesday’s practice. “But he had a contact practice, and that’s a good thing.”

Contact practices without restrictions – or simulated contact practices, when teams are practicing at half-speed as dictated by their schedule for the week – are the final step in the recovery process. The Giants still have three practices this week, including one Saturday.

Shepard still must be cleared for game action by the Giants medical staff and then by an independent neurologist, but Shurmur indicated he will see the doctors later this week.

The Giants have held back an eager-to-return Shepard because he suffered two concussions within the first five games of the season. He returned to both games, only to report the next morning complaining of symptoms both times.

The NFL Players Association investigates the in-game handling of every concussion. Shepard previously admitted to deceiving the trainers and independent concussion-spotters after his concussion in Week 1 against the Cowboys.

“I think he’s getting closer and closer,” Shurmur said. “We have an extra day certainly because it’s Monday Night (Football), but we’ll see what the week brings.”

The Giants haven’t played a single preseason or regular-season snap with their top four offensive weapons together because of various injuries to Shepard, Evan Engram and Saquon Barkley, plus Golden Tate’s season-opening four game suspension.

If Shepard returns and the other three do not fall victim to the curse, the Giants offense finally will be whole to begin the second half of the season and try to salvage a meaningful season from a 2-6 start.

Two months ago, it seemed impossible that Eli Manning would not take a single snap with the big four, but now rookie Daniel Jones is preparing for his seventh start and still waiting to know what it’s like to have a full complement of weapons spreading the field.

Shepard is off limits to media at the Giants facility while in the concussion protocol. He has maintained a steady presence in the locker room interacting with teammates while sidelined.

“He’s making good progress,” Shurmur said.

Shepard told The Post last week at a charity event that he felt “100 percent.” Despite the research on the long-lasting impact of sustaining concussions, Shepard will not be cautioned into changing his playing style, which includes going over the middle of the field and being one of the NFL’s best receivers on contested catches, as measured by Pro Football Focus.

“You think about it. It’s in the back of your head,” Shepard said. “But I feel like at this point, it woul[d] change the way that I play and I’m not going to change the way that I play. I’ve given it a little thought, but I’m ultimately going to do what I love to do.”

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