David Wilson, who was considered a talent of limitless potential as a running back for the New York Giants, appears to have his budding career as an NFL player ended by a serious neck injury.
Wilson, 23, was told by team officials that he needed to discontinue playing football due to the condition of his neck and spine. The Giants placed Wilson on injured reserve, which means he will not play for them this season.
Wilson said in a press release by the team: “I don’t want anybody to feel sorry for me or pity me. I lived my dream. . . Now I have a chance to dream another dream and live that, too.
“I’m thankful that I can literally walk away from the game and that I am healthy and capable of doing the same things I have done all my life, except play football,” Wilson added. “I always try to find the positive in everything. … I didn’t hear what I wanted to hear, but I expected what they told me could be a possibility. I had played out both scenarios in my mind.”
Wilson injured his neck in a Week 5 game against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013, and missed the rest of the season. He had spinal fusion surgery in January and was not cleared for full contact until July 21, the day before the Giants’ first training camp practice. But he was injured during practice a week later and spent a portion of last week being examined by doctors.
Frank Cammisa, who is the chief of spine services at the Hospital for Special Surgery and the doctor who performed Wilson’s surgery in January, and team doctor Russell Warren advised Wilson not to play anymore.
“David has diffuse cervical stenosis,” Warren said in the team’s news release. “He had a disk removed and a fusion in January. In light of last week’s episode of symptoms, sensory and motor, Frank and I both told David he should not play football anymore. We let David know that by playing he would be putting himself at risk for more episodes like last week or perhaps something more serious.”
