Giants' David Wilson will get second opinion on neck injury
Denver Broncos' Duke Ihenacho tackles New York Giants' David Wilson during the first half. (Sept. 15, 2013) Credit: AP
David Wilson might as well have been speaking on behalf of every Giants player, coach and fan when he was asked if he is concerned that his neck injury might be season-ending.
His answer: "Yeah.''
Wilson, speaking for the first time since suffering the injury last week, will go to Los Angeles on Monday for a second opinion on what the medical staff thinks might be spinal stenosis.
Wilson said his entire body went numb for about 30 seconds after he was flung to the turf. It also happened to him in college and high school, he said, which makes him confident that he'll be able to bounce back. He also stressed that he feels fine.
"No pain, all motion, all strength," he said. "There's nothing wrong with me except the X-ray. They want to be cautious about it. That's the most frustrating part is feeling like I do. Feeling healthy."
Still, there is a chance that Wilson will be told his second NFL season is over. Tom Coughlin said that is "not the way it was presented to me" by the doctors, and he hopes three to four weeks of rest will help the "disc issue." But season-ending is a possibility, and veteran players who have dealt with neck injuries have advised Wilson not to be so cavalier about that area of the body.
"He has to sit back and listen because it's something that is different from any other type of injury, dealing with your neck and your career," center David Baas said. "Sometimes coming back too early can actually hurt you and your team."
If the Giants are without Wilson for several weeks, they might have to rely on Brandon Jacobs and rookie Michael Cox. Backup running back Da'Rel Scott was signed last week to pick up the slack from Wilson's injury, but he suffered a hamstring injury Thursday and his availability is in doubt. The Giants also have Andre Brown inching closer to coming off injured reserve after fracturing his leg in the preseason. Brown will begin practicing with the team Thursday but is not eligible to play until Week 10.
The best-case scenario?
"I'll be back after the second opinion," Wilson said. "That's what I'm hoping and praying for because I feel perfectly fine. It really doesn't make sense to me right now. People say, 'Oh, but it's the neck.' But I feel like I'm fine. I'm willing to go out there and sacrifice and play with my team. This is what I love. That's my choice."
